Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Inc. (IRPT) and the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a transatlantic partnership aimed at modernizing infrastructure, expanding commercial opportunities, and accelerating knowledge-sharing across inland waterway freight networks.
The agreement was signed on October 1 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during a ceremony attended by EFIP President Uwe Köhn, EFIP Director Turi Fiorito, and IRPT Executive Director Aimee Andres.
“By aligning America’s inland river system with Europe’s inland port network, we can accelerate modernization, share proven practices, and create investable opportunities that benefit communities and supply chains alike,” said Andres. She added that the partnership positions inland waterways as a connected, global system.
The MoU is designed to foster cooperation between American and European inland ports and terminals, develop investment-grade logistics and terminal projects, promote best practices in operations, policy, and technology, and strengthen public-private partnerships intended to improve revenues and resilience.
Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Inc. (IRPT) is a nonprofit corporation established in 1974 in the United States. It represents more than 500 members across 11 river basins, including ports, terminals, and service providers. The organization advocates for the role of inland river transportation in the U.S. economy and supports the operational and policy needs of its members.
European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) is an international nonprofit association representing inland ports across Europe. It acts as a collective voice for its members in policy discussions at the European Union level, focusing on transport, logistics, and infrastructure regulation. EFIP’s membership includes national port organizations and individual inland ports from multiple European countries.
