Together with the University of Delft, the University of Antwerp, through the Department of Transport and Regional Economics, is currently hosting a European Asia Link project.

Project Title
Design, production and processes of modern containerships and tankers for inland water transport

Duration
November 2005 - November 2007

Summary
In response to the increasing importance of inland water transport for economic development in both China and Vietnam, the aim of this 2-year project is to enhance the knowledge of design, production, transport concepts and shipping operations related to modern containerships and tankers for inland water transport. Partners in the recipient countries are Wuhan University of Technology, China (WUT) and Vietnam Maritime University (VIMARU); EU partners are Delft University of Technology (DUT, Applicant) Netherlands, and University of Antwerp (UA), Belgium. The direct target group comprises 55 selected staff members from WUT and 55 staff from VIMARU. The proposed HRD activities comprise 6-month training periods (fellowships) for selected Asian staff at EU partner institutes; short, intensive training courses in China and Vietnam conducted by DUT and UA staff; and exposure visits EU by WUT and VIMARU management staff. 

Objectives 
Overall Objective (developmental objective)
To contribute to the development of modern inland water transport by enhancing its overall capacity and improving its efficiency through the application of new ship designs as well as up-to-date concepts of transport and shipping operations. Considering the pivotal role of inland water transport in the overall transport chain, the project is equally expected to benefit the rapid economic development of the concerned countries. 

Specific Objectives (immediate objectives)

• To make 10 selected staff members from WUT (5) and VIMARU (5) fully proficient with: R&D on design of innovative, optimised ship concepts; modern transportation concepts in river and sea-river transport; shipping economy; shipyard production, processes (CAD/CAM), planning and control; and cargo flows and handling through 6- month fellowships at DUT (6) and UA(4). 
• To create-and update- new knowledge within WUT and VIMARU on typical underlying theoretical principles as well as practical aspects of transport concepts, ship design, ship production and shipping operations through four intensive short training courses for selected staff from WUT (40) and VIMARU (40) to be conducted by staff from DUT (5) and UA (3).
• To familiarise two groups of both WUT (10) and VIMARU (10) senior staff members with both  academic- and state-of-the art developments in river-sea cargo transport, ship building, shipping and port operations through two short exposure visits to Netherlands and Belgium.