FERRYTALES Project Kick-Off: Paving the Way for Zero-Emission and Autonomous Ferries in Central Europe
The FERRYTALES project officially launched its partnership with the first kick-off meeting, marking a significant step toward improving cross-border connectivity and sustainable transport in Central Europe. Bringing together project partners from Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, and Austria, the meeting set the stage for implementing zero-emission and autonomous ferry solutions in rural and peripheral regions.
All project partners introduced themselves, shared their previous experience, and discussed expectations for the project. Beside the discussion of the management and communication issues, intervention logic of the project and workplan, emphasis was placed on stakeholder involvement, including local authorities, ferry operators, and municipalities, to ensure that pilot solutions meet local needs and regulatory requirements.
The project will address outdated ferry fleets operating in Dresden, where existing vessels are of mixed age and many are under maintenance pressure, highlighting the urgency of introducing modern, zero-emission ferries.
Key steps include:
- Engaging ferry operators and local stakeholders to ensure operational feasibility.
- Integrating electric propulsion technology to reduce emissions and enhance sustainability.
- develop a basis for real procurement process, prepare a complete professional background for investment project.
For autonomous ferries, the project will focus on:
- Identifying exact locations suitable for future autonomous ferry operations.
- Engaging municipalities to explore potential solutions that align with local needs.
- Examining the legal and regulatory frameworks in each country, as autonomous operations depend heavily on national regulations.
While fully autonomous ferry operation is ambitious, the project will explore remote-operated ferries as a realistic first step. Such demonstrations and simulations will test technical feasibility, inform the design of operational procedures, and provide a foundation for eventual autonomous operations.
The 2-day kick-off included a site visit to the cross-border ferry between Radvaň nad Dunajom (SK) and Neszmély (HU), which demonstrates how modern ferry infrastructure can strengthen cross-border cooperation, support tourism, and connect cycling routes along the Danube. The Štúrovo freight ferry project again provided a direct truck connection between the southern Slovakia region across the Danube to the northern Hungarian region. This connection significantly reduced the number of kilometres the trucks have to take to cross the border.