Abstract for: Effects of drought on the inland shipping sector: a system dynamics study of river transport on the Dutch Rhine

Extreme drought and the resulting low water levels in rivers can cause problems for the shipping sector on the Rhine in the Netherlands. In this paper, we explore the effects of drought on the behavior of the integrated Rhine inland shipping system with specific focus on capacity, economic (in-)efficiency, and CO2 emissions under different scenarios. Preliminary findings suggest that a modal shift will impact CO2 emissions negatively, and that measures designed to keep inland shipping going for as long as possible during periods of drought should get preference. This research contributes to the discussion on usability of System Dynamics modelling for investigating the dynamic behavior of transportation systems, especially supporting policy and decision making processes