The WISTAR feasibility study was successfully completed in Oktober 2025 after 18 months of intensive research. Thanks to the very positive response from the research community, the project is now preparing for its next phase.
The goal is to build a strong consortium and launch a follow-up project that further develops the WISTAR concept. This next stage will involve deeper analyses and closer collaboration with partners from research, development, and industry.
Key focus areas of the next phase include:
- A stronger emphasis on transshipment processes, with targeted design and optimization of transfer points
- The development of business models for other regions, building on best-practice insights from the Ruhr area
- Testing new configurations on the WISTAR network-based simulation model to evaluate potential charging locations, vessel sizes, battery capacities, and available market solutions
- Expanding the initial model for western German canals, making CO₂ savings compared to road transport transparent and assessing the economic viability of shifting freight from trucks to inland vessels
Beyond simulations, WISTAR continues to seek real-world use cases where transporting smaller cargo volumes on rivers creates added value. These cases allow concepts to be tested in practice, not just in theory.
Learn more
about WISTAR and its future direction in the recent magazine SUT Schifffahrt
und Technik 1/2026 feature: