In calm waters on the way with the Johannes von Nepomuk

Video Description

He comes from a family with seven generations of inland navigation experience, studied logistics, is a new father – and lives for his job, which is also his calling: Tobias Zöller is the captain of the Johannes von Nepomuk push barge, which moves thousands of tons of rapeseed meal, soybeans, and iron ore between Rotterdam, Bamberg, and Osijek in Croatia. But his job is more than just a transport business: It's a way of life balancing technology, nature, and family responsibility. The report accompanies Tobias through locks, shipyard stays, and long days of cruising on the Main-Danube Canal. It shows how a traditional craft has evolved into a highly complex profession, struggling with skilled labor shortages, bureaucratic hurdles, and pressure to invest in green propulsion. But it also shows how decelerated waterborne transport can be a sustainable answer to congested roads. Inland waterway sailor Tobias Zöller reports on everyday life on board, on ordinary seamen from Ukraine, on deer swimming through the water – and on childhood memories on the ship, which once served as his adventure playground. He knows the technical intricacies of his engine as well as the challenges of balancing work and life with family on the water. A striking portrait of a man caught between past and future. It shows how modern inland waterway transport works – and why the calm waters between hectic roads and often dilapidated tracks may still have a future. A film by Norbert Goldhammer - 30 minutes