From Wednesday, inland waterway vessels will be sailing on the Rhine via remote control for the first time on a commercial basis. The reason for this is not only the desire to save costs, but also a shortage of skilled workers.
Belgium already has experience with remote-controlled inland waterways vessels. The ramp-up in Germany should now be done carefully so that authorities and other parties involved take part, says a shipping company boss. "We don't want to overwhelm the authorities, ship insurance and certification companies."