Consortium

Schiffer-Berufskolleg RHEIN (SBKR), based in Duisburg, Germany, is the country’s only vocational school specialized in inland navigation and port logistics, serving as a key partner in the German dual education system since 1949. As a recognized competence centre, SBKR trains over 400 students annually from Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Austria in inland navigation, shipbuilding, and port logistics. Students also have the opportunity to earn a technical college certificate qualifying them for higher education.

SBKR works closely with leading institutions such as the BDB (operator of the training vessel Schulschiff Rhein) and DST (operator of the SANDRA II shallow water simulator). As a founding member of the EDINNA network, SBKR plays a central role in European inland navigation education and contributes extensively to EU projects, curriculum development, and quality management.

The Edinna network

EDINNA is the educational network of inland waterway navigation schools and training institutes. The aim of EDINNA is to come to a more structured cooperation between members that use the same European waterway system and have a different background in various educational systems in Europe, as well as to establish a harmonized education, training and certification system for inland waterway personnel in order to ensure high quality of trained staff on board the vessels.

With a dedicated team of 14 experienced teachers, SBKR brings strong expertise in vocational training, digital education, project coordination, and inland navigation policy, making it a valuable partner in shaping the future of inland waterway transport training.

University of Craiova (UCV) is one of Romania’s leading higher education institutions, known for its commitment to academic excellence, scientific research, and international collaboration. Established in 1947, UCV has developed into a comprehensive university with 12 faculties and over 19,000 students, offering a wide range of bachelor’s and master’s programs across disciplines.

UCV has extensive experience in European research and educational projects, participating in more than 150 international initiatives under programs such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus+, FP6/FP7, and others.

IMST Department

The Department of Engineering and Management of the Technological Systems from Drobeta Turnu-Severin (IMST) assumes the important mission of preparing specialists in the engineering field, capable of using valuable scientific, technical and cultural-human knowledge and to contribute to the technological, economical and socio-cultural progress of the romanian and international societies.

IMST proposes to promote forms of preparing adapted to a competing knowledge society, supposed to the integration process in the International and European Comunity. Its main mission is to form an engineer capable of adapting to the market economy requests and to the new technologies, to have economic and managing knowledge and to promote the durable development principles and also to protect the environment. 

With over 25 years of expertise in Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) education, the university, through its IMST Department, offers a specialized study program in Navigation and Inland Waterway Transport. Approximately 100 students are currently enrolled in this program, which focuses on developing the next generation of IWT professionals.

Also a founding member of EDINNA alongside SBKR, UCV plays a key role in shaping inland navigation education in Europe, bridging academic knowledge with practical training and innovation in transport and logistics.

DST – Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems is a renowned international research institute based in Germany, with over 70 years of experience in the field of inland and coastal navigation. With a team of 45 experts, DST specializes in the hydrodynamic optimization of vessels operating on confined waterways, using advanced ship model testing and simulation techniques.

A central mission of DST is to support the modernization and innovation of inland waterway vessels, contributing to more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready transport solutions. In addition to its technical expertise, DST also conducts applied research in logistics and transport economics, aiming to unlock the full potential of inland navigation in addressing modern freight and environmental challenges.

DST maintains strong ties with industry stakeholders and public authorities to ensure that applied research is swiftly translated into practice. The institute is actively involved in both EU-funded and national projects focusing on automated navigation, zero-emission technologies, energy efficiency, and crew training and education.

SANDRA II shallow-water navigation simulator

Since 2008, the DST runs a ship handling simulator, called SANDRA. This shallow water simulator was developed specifically for the education and training of boat masters and for processing shallow water-related projects.

In addition to traditional model testing in a towing tank, the simulator is used to test the navigability and manoeuvrability of ships, beginning from standard inland vessels up to large container vessels, while passing inland waterways and channels, as well as propulsion or steering systems. In addition to use in research projects (see Project wind effects), the education and training of crew members in the simulator is becoming more important, as the simulator can usefully supplement the on-board training. Crews have the option, for example to train through repeated exercises the navigation on demanding routes and thus to more rapidly acquire a patent.

Through its longstanding commitment to inland navigation and its deep involvement in innovation-driven projects, DST continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of waterborne transport in Europe.

FHOO – University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is one of the most prominent Universities of Applied Sciences in the German-speaking world, recognized for its strong focus on application-oriented research and innovation.

With a centralized R&D coordination structure and dedicated Research Center heads at its four campuses, FHOO ensures efficient management and high-impact outcomes for its projects. FHOO has participated in more than 50 EU-funded projects, including Horizon, EFRE, ERA-Net, and Erasmus+, and is an active member of international academic and innovation networks such as IAUP, EUA, IEEE, CEEMAN, and EAIE.

FHOO offers around 65 degree programs and brings extensive experience in curriculum development, digital learning materials, and inland waterway transport (IWT) education. The university has played a key role in European projects aimed at modernizing IWT training, with expertise in competency-based learning, digital didactics, and multilingual, inclusive education approaches.

With its strong academic foundation and industry-linked research, FHOO continues to be a leader in innovation and education for the inland navigation sector.

Navi Barging Management, in cooperation with Navilux Schifffahrt and NaviTrans Schifffahrt, is a dynamic company group actively engaged in modern inland waterway transport (IWT) across Europe. With a dedicated team of 11 employees, including trainees, Navi Barging oversees operations and supports innovation in vessel management and crew development.

Through Navilux, the company operates over 20 ship units from Reederei Deymann, specializing in the transport of liquid goods such as petrol, diesel, and chemicals across European inland waterways—from the Netherlands and Belgium to the Rhine and Basel. Navilux employs around 120 on-board personnel. Meanwhile, NaviTrans Schifffahrt manages a fleet of 5 coupling associations and 11 cargo vessels, primarily focused on container transport between seaports and terminals along the Rhine, employing about 125 people.

The company is actively involved in developing new operating systems with a focus on green travel, energy efficiency, and digital transformation in IWT. It uses the IWT-Simulator at SBKR to train its crews and supports the harmonization of training standards across Europe to ensure better alignment in the recruitment and qualification of helmsmen and boatmasters.