Leiden University: Electric boats will make University construction projects cleaner
No more smelly lorries disposing of building waste or delivering building materials to the centre of Leiden. That’s Leiden University’s ambition for its future renovation or construction projects in the city centre. Electric boats should make the process cleaner and less inconvenient for the people of Leiden.
The plans, which are part of the Metropolitan Hub Systems Zuid-Holland project, are a collaboration between the University and, among others, the Province of Zuid-Holland and the Municipality of Leiden. The latter has already decided to make all city logistics emission free by 2025.
Boat tour of construction projects
On 12 July the plans were discussed during a boat tour past the University’s future construction projects. Representatives from Constructif construction firm, the Province of Zuid-Holland, the Municipality of Leiden, Leiden University and KOTUG CityBarge boat builders were among those invited.
The tour went past the University’s PN. van Eyckhof-Van Wijkplaats building, which is being renovated and is serving as a test case. Electric boats will probably also be used for other renovation work to the Witte Singel-Doelen Complex.
The next stop was a site near Lammenschans where a ‘City Terminal’ is to be built. This will serve as a transfer point where construction waste can be transported further by road and construction materials can be delivered. The CityBarge will also bring construction workers and other technicians to the building site, which will reduce pressure on parking by the University buildings in question.
Over 14,000 vans
Leiden University thinks it is important to gain experience with electric transport by water as soon as possible, not only because of municipal requirements but also to reduce its environmental footprint and the inconvenience to the city’s residents. It has been calculated that the project will save 14,000 van trips in the city centre. Alongside a lot of noise and parking nuisance, this will prevent the emission of over 11,000 kilos of CO2, almost 50 kilos of nitrogen and 1.44 kilos of particulates.