The Erasmus+ ARIELL project was highlighted at the PLATINA4Action 2nd Stage Event, held at the Danube Commission Headquarters in Budapest, through the contribution of Professor Gabriel Benga, President of EDINNA (Education in Inland Navigation).
Professor Benga participated as a speaker and panelist in Thematic Session 3 – “The Human Element in Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) and its Future Development”. In his presentation, “The Human Element in IWT”, he emphasised that while infrastructure and technological advancements are essential, people remain the true foundation of inland navigation — including captains, crews, educators, engineers, and trainers.
Key challenges discussed included the aging workforce, the training needs generated by emerging technologies, and the increasing importance of soft skills, lifelong learning, and a strong safety culture to ensure a sustainable and innovative future for the sector.
Within this context, Professor Benga presented the ARIELL project as a concrete response to these challenges. He highlighted how simulator-based training, digital tools, and innovative learning methodologies can modernise inland navigation education and better prepare professionals for a rapidly evolving operational environment.
The session reaffirmed that the human factor is not a weakness, but the greatest asset in achieving a greener, safer, and more innovative inland waterway transport system in Europe.
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