Decathlon tests an inland waterway service

between Duisburg and Delta 3

Following a railway from China comes an inland waterway from Germany

Just last November, Decathlon drew cheers as the first freight train from China rolled into the Delta 3 station. [Read article]  The streamlining of logistics is a priority for Decathlon in its never-ending exploration of new routes. In late July, 36 containers that left Duisburg two days earlier on the ship “Laborieux” were unloaded at the Dourges Delta 3 multimodal hub. History in the making!

Advantages of inland waterway service

Inland water transport offers unbeatable delivery capacity. The sales director of Delta 3, Xavier Perrin, explains, “A water convoy can transport up to 500 containers, compared to a maximum of just 90 containers by railway and a mere 2 containers by road.” Also, reducing the number of trucks on the roads has environmental benefits, a very important value for the group.

The road ahead for Decathlon

More cost-effective, more environmentally-friendly, and less accident-prone than road transport, inland waterway service is a long-term win for Decathlon. In late July, this form of transport demonstrated the potential of inland water transport between Germany and Delta 3. The sporting goods brand also announced the creation of a logistics hub in Hauts-de-France to replace the Port of Antwerp in Belgium. Source: Decathlon, La Voix du Nord