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They chose river transport: how did they do it?
On November 4, the Île-de-France Region welcomed us for a morning event entirely dedicated to river transport. Around the table, VNF, IKEA, Les Mousquetaires, Point P, CEVA Logistics, Paris Terminal, and Haropa Port shared their practices, their gains, and the levers that make this mode of transport decisive for the logistics chain.
Rivers at the heart of strategies: they tell their story
River transport is establishing itself as a performance driver for companies seeking to stabilize their flows and reduce their costs. During this morning session, speakers reiterated that decarbonization is just an added bonus: the real traction comes from operational and economic gains. Our president made it clear: to be convincing, we must first demonstrate the business value before talking about carbon impact.
The Musketeers use the Seine to smooth the arrival of containers and reduce penalties related to port congestion.
To integrate river transport into its processes and ensure reliable delivery times, CEVA relies on five internal pillars:
IKEA has demonstrated that a daily river corridor combined with an electric last mile can deliver to more than 180,000 customers while removing 18,000 trucks from the road.
Point P uses dedicated barges to consolidate its river logistics for aggregates and blocks, thereby avoiding the use of 2,500 trucks. It should be noted that post-transport has been internalized to circumvent constraints on low-value products.
In all these cases, the modal shift to river transport transforms a logistical peak into a steady flow, reducing pressure on warehouses and limiting congestion. Companies also cite greater resilience in the face of unforeseen events: the availability of the river network exceeds 99% on the Seine axis.
Creating an integrated multimodal ecosystem: the key to success
River transport does not operate in isolation. Its efficiency depends on coordination across the entire chain, from the seaport to the last mile. Various initiatives have shown that the success of a modal shift depends on four factors: reliable infrastructure, a modernized fleet, suitable port services, and structured customer demand.
In terms of infrastructure, the Île-de-France Region and the French government have made significant investments: €82 million since 2015 in ports, port railways, locks, dams, shared quays, and multimodal platforms.
VNF also has a ten-year strategy, financed to the tune of €300 million per year via the AFITF, to regenerate and improve the reliability of the network.
Haropa Port is investing in infrastructure to improve access to Port 2000 and strengthen the river-sea network.
Paris Terminal is developing a Gennevilliers–Bonneuil shuttle (scheduled for 2026) and rail/river connections.
Focus on financial mechanisms to support projects
- PARM for studies and experiments,
- PAMI for fleet modernization (approximately €6 million/year, 60 projects),
- REMOVE/CEE for new traffic (€38.5 million until 2027).
Multi-company terminals and shared solutions demonstrate that river logistics progresses when stakeholders work together. The Île-de-France region has emphasized that the most iconic projects, such as Notre-Dame and Grand Paris, are based precisely on this joint construction between public and private partners.
Key lessons to remember
The greatest gains come not from the cost of transportation itself, but from the hidden costs avoided and the operational flexibility achieved.
The storage franchises offered by river platforms reduce parking costs and absorb the vagaries of maritime transport.
River transport turns distance into a strategic advantage
Economic viability depends on a comprehensive view of the chain, which can account for half of the total cost.
The logic is not to pit modes of transport against each other, but to build an optimized end-to-end chain that would reduce risks, improve regularity, and enhance overall performance.
A big thank you to Laurène MATZEU DE VIALAR for masterfully hosting this morning event, as well as to all the speakers: Yann DE FERAUDY, Muriel Saccoccio, Eloi FLIPO, Jean-Marie PETITDIDIER, Emilie CARPELS, Laurent HELARD, Camille CONTAMINE, Céline MANTOUX, Virginie ALLILI, Jacky GABRIEL, Nathalie WOOCK, and Claire AUBREE.
