Cologne / Berlin. HGK AG is one of the founding members of the Wasserstraße Alliance. Together with duisport, Rhenus Port Logistics and Viking River Cruises, the alliance is committed to the rapid expansion and modernisation of Germany’s waterways.

Through its ‘Waterways 2035’ agenda, the Alliance highlights the vital importance of waterways for supplying industry, commerce and the general public. Millions of tonnes of goods are transported via Germany’s waterways every year. At the same time, many locks, weirs and other infrastructure structures are reaching their capacity limits or are in need of refurbishment.

Against this backdrop, the alliance is calling for a long-term expansion and funding plan for the waterway infrastructure. Furthermore, it advocates for faster planning and approval procedures, greater prioritisation of key projects, and investment in the modernisation of inland waterway transport.

“If the Rhine is not navigable, there is a risk of industrial collapse in Germany,” says HGK CEO Steffen Bauer. The Rhine and the western German canal network form the backbone of German inland logistics and are indispensable for numerous companies.

Through the Waterway Alliance, the participating companies are pooling their interests and expertise. The aim is to raise political and public awareness of waterways as an efficient, sustainable and indispensable mode of transport.