“Preparing FAIRway 2 works in the Rhine-Danube Corridor” – successful completion of the multi-beneficiary project
The implementation of the project “Preparing FAIRway 2 works in the Rhine-Danube Corridor” was completed on 31st of December 2024.
The project was part of a global initiative to secure and maintain Good Navigation Status along the Rhine-Danube corridor. It builds upon the previous CEF project “FAIRway Danbue”, which has been delivering tangible results since 2015 in six Danube countries.
Home page of FAIRway Danube project
Five key objectives were achieved through the project “Preparing FAIRway 2 works in the Rhine-Danube Corridor”:
- Monitoring and inventory of navigation and environmental characteristics along the shared section of the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia, from river-km 1433,1 to river-km 1295,5, serving as a basis for modeling and developing River Basin Management Plans in Republic of Croatia
- Creating a study with results of 1D hydraulic modeling for the entire Croatian and Serbian Danube common section, which includes multi-criteria analysis, work variants and defined next steps for future investments.
- Specified terms of reference for functional upgrades to the transnational waterway monitoring system (WAMOS), which was developed and implemented under the CEF project “FAIRway Danube”
- Defining a concept for cooperation and coordination of stakeholders along the Austrian, Croatian and Serbian sections of the Danube, applicable to other CEF funded projects
- Creating a study assessing the needs to upgrade/construct mooring places
For the Republic of Croatia, the most important activity was the monitoring of parameters critical for maintaining good navigation status as well as preserving natural ecosystems. Detailed data was collected on hydrological, hydraulic and morphological conditions of the river, as well as biodiversity (fish, birds, river benthos and floodplain habitats), which was consolidated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) database. These data provide important information for defining conservation goals in line with the Habitat Directive and other relevant EU guidelines.
The results of the monitoring and inventory of the biodiversity components conducted by the Croatian partner (Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure) can be found at the following links:
Annex 3 - Biodiversity Catalogue
Annex 4 - Analysis of the existing state
Annex 6 - Velocity, Flow and Sediment Study
Annex 7 - Inventory of River Regulation Infrastructure
As part of the project, the Serbian partner (Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure) developed a 1D hydraulic model, a 2D hydrodynamic and hydromorphological model of the common section of the Danube River, defined criteria for multi-criteria analysis and obtained new values for characteristic navigation levels.
Modeling results are available at the following link:
Plovput - Preparing FAIRway 2 Works
Additionally, through an integrated analysis of data collected by the Croatian partner, in collaboration with Serbian project partners, priority critical sections along the Danube common section were redefined. Various solutions were considered for these sections and presented in the final study, which will serve as the basis for further planning and management of the waterway in accordance with ecological objectives and safety requirements.
The project included the development and upgrade of the waterway monitoring system (WAMOS) and establishing better coordination among key stakeholders, including Croatian, Serbian and Austrian partners. Studies were conducted in Austria, Croatia and Serbia to determine the need for upgrade or construction of mooring places along the Danube and Sava rivers in these countries. In Austria, this study was complemented with detailed planning for selected locations, which are planned for future construction/upgrade. These studies can be used in the coordinated development of mooring infrastructure in other Danube River basin countries.
via donau - Preparing FAIRway 2 Works
The successful completion of the “Preparing FAIRway 2 works in the Rhine-Danube Corridor” project laid the foundation for continued sustainable management of the Danube waterway, with the preservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems in the border area between Croatia and Serbia. All analyses were conducted in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive and the Water Framework Directive.
For additional information about the project “Preparing FAIRway 2 works in the Rhine-Danube Corridor”, please contact Croatian national coordinator:
Lidija Hubalek
Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure
Directorate for Inland Navigation
Regional Office for Inland Waterways Vukovar
Parobodarska 3, 32000 Vukovar, Republic of Croatia
Tel: +385 32 445-051
Email: lidija.hubalek[at]mmpi.hr
