Christian Lorenz
Press Officer
Telephone 0221 / 390 11 90
E-mail lorenzc(at)hgk.de
Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG
Press Office
Am Niehler Hafen 2
50735 Cologne
‘Allianz Wasserstraße’ launched: Partners strengthen the position of inland ports and inland waterway transport
Initiative aims to promote greater equality between different modes of transport
Duisburg. Duisburger Hafen AG, Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK), Rhenus Logistics and Viking Cruises AG founded the ‘Allianz Wasserstraße’ on 15 June 2026. Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and State Secretary Claudia Elif Stutz from the Federal Ministry of Transport expressly support this advocacy group. The signatories to the document include Markus Bangen (duisport), Steffen Bauer (HGK), Michael de Reese (Rhenus Logistics) and Thomas Bogler (Viking).
The following signed the founding documents for the “Allianz Wasserstraße” in Duisburg: Michael de Reese, CEO of Rhenus Port Logistics (from left to right), Steffen Bauer, CEO of the HGK Group, Thomas Bogler, member of the Board of Directors of Viking Cruises AG, and Markus Bangen, Chairman of the Executive Board of Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport). © duisport | Marco Stepniak
Through this alliance, the leading players in Germany’s inland ports and inland waterway transport are pooling their expertise and economic clout to strengthen waterways as a key pillar of competitiveness, security of supply and climate-friendly logistics chains. The aim is to secure the strategic advantage of efficient waterways in the long term – through rigorous advocacy and concrete proposals for a robust, efficient infrastructure.
Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, emphasised the following in the context of the alliance’s formation: “Waterways and inland ports make an enormously important contribution to supplying the population and to the logistics of the economy. A well-functioning inland waterway transport system is of central importance for the industrial future of North Rhine-Westphalia, and its potential is far from being fully exploited. I very much welcome the fact that the ‘Waterways Alliance’ has created an innovative partnership between leading stakeholders, whose aim is to further strengthen and promote the importance of inland waterway transport.”
Claudia Elif Stutz, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, added: “The establishment of the ‘Waterway Alliance’ underlines the vital importance of an efficient waterway-vessel-port system as a fundamental prerequisite for resilient, climate-friendly supply chains and the competitiveness of our industrial base. The targeted maintenance of the existing waterway infrastructure must be a key focus, alongside the transformation of inland waterway transport. The Alliance brings together key players from industry and the field to strengthen the role of waterways in the transport system in the long term.”
The Alliance will raise awareness of the transport policy relevance of waterways amongst policymakers and the general public. Improving the framework conditions for an efficient and reliable infrastructure is essential to this. Equally important are IT-related issues, with a view to optimising transport chains through digitalisation and effectively addressing the shortage of skilled workers. In addition, the initiative is working to scale up climate-friendly transport and improve efficiency in transport flows.
With immediate effect, the Alliance is stepping up its engagement with associations and organisations across the entire supply chain, with a view to strengthening the interplay between different modes of transport through coordinated positions. It is also actively seeking dialogue with industrial clients and civil society to gain a broader perspective on opinions and to coordinate the sector’s aspirations.
With this aim in mind, the Alliance does not see itself as an alternative model, but rather as a complement to existing association structures. It offers an additional framework for dialogue and implementation, deliberately opens its doors to associations and addresses the relevant issues collectively. In doing so, it presents a strong and unified front to political decision-makers at both national and European level, with the aim of securing for inland waterways the visibility and priority commensurate with their strategic importance.
Following its establishment, the initiators will continue to drive forward and coordinate the formal structure of the alliance. The partnership is open to all companies involved in multimodal transport chains, in particular industrial and commercial enterprises acting as shippers, as well as relevant associations, environmental and industry organisations, and civil society groups. The aim is to create a broadly based, business-oriented platform that exerts effective influence at national and European level, thereby helping to shape the future of the inland waterway system in a sustainable manner.
Statements from the companies involved in the formation of the alliance:
Steffen Bauer, CEO of the HGK Group: “We need resilient and sustainable value chains. To build these, we must view the economy and logistics as two sides of the same coin. Waterways are an indispensable pillar of efficient and future-proof logistics and thus a crucial factor in a robust economy. Through the Alliance, we not only represent the industry’s interests collectively at federal and EU level, but also give civil society, associations and other social stakeholders the opportunity to get involved.”
Markus Bangen, Chief Executive of Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport): “The resilience and competitiveness of the German economy are directly linked to the performance of our waterways and ports. They are not only logistical hubs, but also crucial junctions for transformation. We are committed to ensuring that policymakers finally give the waterway system the attention it deserves, so that Germany can maintain its role as a leading industrial location.”
Michael de Reese, CEO of Rhenus Port Logistics: “If inland waterways are to play their part in supplying key industrial sectors and relieving pressure on the roads, they must finally be given the political priority that matches their strategic importance. The alliance gives our sector greater clout to demand reliable decisions, sufficient investment and predictable framework conditions in Berlin and Brussels. Only in this way can we further develop inland waterways as an efficient and future-proof axis of European freight transport.”
Thomas Bogler, Member of the Board of Directors of Viking Cruises AG: “For thousands of years, people have been travelling on rivers and transporting their goods and merchandise along them. Efficient waterways are key to the future of our transport system and the competitiveness of our economy. They combine sustainability with efficiency. With the Alliance for Waterways, we are giving the industry a strong voice – for expansion, modernisation and digital connectivity as the foundation for a climate-friendly and economically robust future.”
About the Waterway Alliance:
The Allianz Wasserstraße is a cross-sector alliance of leading companies in the inland waterway transport and logistics sectors. It brings together expertise from industry, commerce, associations, and civil society and environmental organisations to raise awareness of the importance of waterways as a key mode of transport in Germany and Europe. The initiative aims to play an active role in shaping the political framework, modernising inland waterway infrastructure and promoting energy efficiency, climate protection and sustainable transport chains. It also aims to make targeted use of digitalisation and automation in logistics processes to ease the workload on skilled workers, strengthen the profession in the long term and tackle the shortage of skilled labour. The Alliance sees itself as an open platform that strengthens dialogue between business, politics and society, and acts as an effective advocate for the future of the inland waterway system.
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