IWAI signs MoU with Rhenus Logistics to deploy 100 barges on national waterways
The Inland Waterways Authority of India signed an MoU with Rhenus Logistics India on 6 May 2025 for barge services on national waterways, with 100 cargo vessels to be deployed in phases on NW-1, NW-2, NW-16 and Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.
Summary
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rhenus Logistics India Pvt. Ltd. in New Delhi on 6 May 2025, in the presence of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, to run barge services on national waterways. Rhenus Logistics is a Germany-based logistics provider operating in more than 70 countries. It will deploy 100 cargo vessels with pusher tugs in phases along NW-1, NW-2, NW-16 and Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes. In the first phase, from the third quarter of 2025, about 20 barges and six pusher tugs are to be deployed, targeting movement of more than one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025.
Key facts
- Date
- 6 May 2025, New Delhi
- Parties
- IWAI and Rhenus Logistics India (Germany-based group)
- Fleet
- 100 barges with pusher tugs, phased
- Routes
- NW-1, NW-2, NW-16, Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes
- Phase I
- About 20 barges and 6 pushers from Q3 2025
- Cargo target
- More than one million tonnes a year by end-2025
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under the IWAI–Rhenus Logistics MoU of 6 May 2025, how many barges/cargo vessels are to be deployed in a phased manner on national waterways?
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Correct answer: B — 100
100 barges are to be deployed in phases; about 20 barges and 6 pushers in the first phase. 70 is the number of countries Rhenus operates in.
Consider the following statements about the IWAI–Rhenus Logistics MoU: 1. Rhenus Logistics is a Germany-based logistics provider. 2. The first phase covers NW-1, NW-2 and NW-16. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as per the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways releases.
What annual cargo movement does the first phase of the IWAI–Rhenus MoU target by the end of 2025?
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Correct answer: A — More than one million tonnes
The first phase targets movement of more than one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025.