Schwarzmüller Transports Trailers on the Danube to Passau

At the end of February, Schwarzmüller trailers were transported by ship for the first time to the bayernhafen Passau. The trailers were transported by truck from the Hungarian plant Dunaharaszti to the port in Budapest and loaded onto the RoRo catamaran of Donau Star. The majority of the journey was made on the Danube, and then they were unloaded in Passau and transported to their final destination.

(Freinberg/Passau) 35 Schwarzmüller trailers from the Hungarian plant Dunaharaszti arrived today, Friday, February 25, at the bayernhafen Passau. This is the first delivery of a newly established transport chain between the site and the headquarters in Hanzing, located in the Austrian municipality of Freinberg, which borders the city of Passau. Following this pilot project, regular shipping services are expected to follow, announced the CFO of the Schwarzmüller Group, Mag. Michael Hummelbrunner, during the unloading in Passau.

The new plateau vehicles have covered approximately 575 kilometers on the Danube. They were towed by truck from the Dunaharaszti plant to the port of Budapest and loaded onto the more than 100-meter-long Bulgarian special ship. The transport is carried out “Roll on Roll off,” meaning the cargo is driven onto the deck rather than lifted like a container. From the port of Passau, the trailers are transported by truck to their final destinations in Austria and southern Germany.

First Danube Ship with New Trailers Arrives in Passau

For the first time ever, a Danube ship arrived in Passau with new trailers on board. After ten months of preparation, Schwarzmüller, along with its partners bayernhafen Passau, Spedition Hitzinger, and the Rosenheim logistics company BTK, was ready for its first operation. The premiere went smoothly, and BTK was able to receive 20 new vehicles. There were a few surprises during loading in Budapest. For example, up to 40 trailers can be transported with a full load, not just 35. On the other hand, the megatrailer does not fit on the deck and must be delivered further by road.

(l. to r. Stefan Ring (Head of Technology and Operations, bayernhafen Passau), Daniel Hitzinger, Manfred Hitzinger (both Hitzinger Transporte), Josef Heiß (Managing Director BTK Logistics, Rosenheim), Alexander Rubchev (Managing Director Donau Star BG EOOD), Mag. Michael Hummelbrunner (CFO Schwarzmüller Group, Freinberg)

The Advantages are Obvious

For Schwarzmüller, transporting with Danube ships has several advantages. Away from congested long-distance routes, the Danube ship operates strictly on schedule and allows for better planning. The transport time is only slightly longer. Individual deliveries are replaced by the full loading of a ship, which ultimately provides an advantage in the CO₂ balance. The transport is also more economical due to the bundling. However, the planning requirements increase: there must be enough orders for the target region within a tight time frame, and tractors are needed for the loading processes.

Future Plans for Six to Eight Ship Connections per Year.

Schwarzmüller intends to thoroughly test the newly developed logistics module. “We do not yet know exactly where the path will lead us. Currently, we are planning six to eight ships per year. New perspectives will emerge from practice,” emphasized CFO Hummelbrunner. The Schwarzmüller Group operates in most Danube riparian states. The key market Poland also falls within the Danube catchment area. In a few years, today’s trial could evolve into a new international module for vehicle delivery.

bayernhafen Managing Director Joachim Zimmermann welcomes the new, environmentally friendly transport chain: “I am pleased that the long-established transport of trailers on RoRo ships is experiencing a renaissance. Only by utilizing all options can we achieve a shift in traffic.”

Photo: © Schwarzmüller