Background
Background of the EU Interreg IVC project Port Integration
Port Integration identifies, exchanges and transfers best practices in the transport sector with special focus on transport chains in ports and hinterland transport and tries to combine relevant strategies. By analysing and integrating transport-related policies, the project deals with specific aspects of maritime as well as at the hinterland transport and the environmental aspects in this field. A further perspective is a political focus on a comprehensive integration of transport chains on all relevant levels. Within this best practices will be identified, exchanged and transferred among project partners. For the related project activities and outcomes please check the relevant web contents on this webpage. Some information about the background of the project can be found below:
I. Maritime Transport/ Hinterland:
Improvement of maritime transport corridors:
a) Strengthening Port Interfaces
In the past years, there a number concepts and technologies of electronic platforms were developed to enhance the efficiency of maritime transport and port interfaces. The European Commission has communicated the European Ports Policy which has influence on developments in European Ports in the future. This includes for example the adoption of the new Directive 2010/65/EU on reporting formalities for ships calling ports, the e-maritime initiatives, and the development of Port Community Systems (PCS). Relevant information on incoming third country goods has to been sent electronically to the Customs and other involved authorities in the port (veterinaries, phytosanitary, water police harbor master, port authority) Therefore the exchange of electronic information between ports gets more and more important. Relevant legislative acts are especially the Modernised Community Customs Code ((CC); Regulation (EC) No 450/2008).
The E-Customs initiative includes a multi-annual strategic plan allocating tasks to the Commission and to the Member States in respect of the electronic customs systems. The EU Commission intends to make a plan which aims at establishing a list of implementation actions and a timetable to be agreed and respected by all of the parties involved.
Also The EU e-Maritime initiative aims to foster the use of advanced information technologies for working and doing business in the maritime transport sector.
Therefore the ports have to develop strategies how to deal with these issues and how they can strengthen their competitiveness and enforce the maritime transport in general.
Improvement of hinterland transport corridors:
b) Development of innovative and sustainable multimodal structures and logistics concepts (hinterland gateways, dryports, etc.)
Freight transport in ports mostly is characterized by an intensive internal transport flow and worldwide connections. The expected growth poses serious challenges to the supply chains and transport networks and the sustainability of local living environments. At the heart of these supply chains, Maritime ports play a key role as an interface between European markets and the rest of the world. The major European Seaports are now landlord ports. They increasingly invest directly or indirectly in better inland connections to their hinterlands. For them it is essential to understand how logistic chains get set up, which key factors lead the actors to choose one route or another. This concerns also investment in inland ports or to favor the development of new rail or barge shuttles for example. Furthermore, in the perspective of the new European transport policy for 2020, it is of interest how European supply chains could change and how port authorities could anticipate these changes and influence them.
An economic analysis of the European seaport system can be found on the webpage of the European Sea port organization.
Further interesting background information can be found in the White Paper on European transport policy for 2010 and at the International Transport Forum at the OECD.
II. European Ports Policy:
a) Communication on a European Ports Policy
The European Commission presented on 18 October 2007 its new communication on ports policy. Objective is to promote a performing EU port system able to cope with future challenges of EU transport needs. The communication provides guidance on the interpretation of Treaty rules and announces a number of forthcoming measures and soft law instruments. Hardly any legislative proposals are proposed.
Six fields of action are introduced:
- port performance and hinterland connections,
- expanding capacity while respecting the environment,
- modernisation,
- a level playing field with clarity for investors, operators and users,
- structured dialogue between ports and cities, and
- labour in ports.
b) Environmental Guidelines
The Commission is committed to reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and will contribute to establish measures aimed at reducing these emissions in ports, including through appropriate incentives.
c) Funding SSS/ MoS/ Marco Polo
The promotion of intermodal transport and Short Sea Shipping by these EU funding programmes and the component of intermodality can help to cope with growing congestion of road and rail infrastructure and of tackling air pollution. The “Motorways of the Sea” concept aims to introduce new intermodal maritime-based logistics chains in Europe, which should bring a structural change in the European transport organisation. Also the Marco Polo II program addresses the problems of modal shift.
Thes funding opportunities shall be examined and discussed between the partners and private operators.
I. Maritime Transport/ Hinterland:
Improvement of maritime transport corridors:
a) Strengthening Port Interfaces
In the past years, there a number concepts and technologies of electronic platforms were developed to enhance the efficiency of maritime transport and port interfaces. The European Commission has communicated the European Ports Policy which has influence on developments in European Ports in the future. This includes for example the adoption of the new Directive 2010/65/EU on reporting formalities for ships calling ports, the e-maritime initiatives, and the development of Port Community Systems (PCS). Relevant information on incoming third country goods has to been sent electronically to the Customs and other involved authorities in the port (veterinaries, phytosanitary, water police harbor master, port authority) Therefore the exchange of electronic information between ports gets more and more important. Relevant legislative acts are especially the Modernised Community Customs Code ((CC); Regulation (EC) No 450/2008).
The E-Customs initiative includes a multi-annual strategic plan allocating tasks to the Commission and to the Member States in respect of the electronic customs systems. The EU Commission intends to make a plan which aims at establishing a list of implementation actions and a timetable to be agreed and respected by all of the parties involved.
Also The EU e-Maritime initiative aims to foster the use of advanced information technologies for working and doing business in the maritime transport sector.
Therefore the ports have to develop strategies how to deal with these issues and how they can strengthen their competitiveness and enforce the maritime transport in general.
Improvement of hinterland transport corridors:
b) Development of innovative and sustainable multimodal structures and logistics concepts (hinterland gateways, dryports, etc.)
Freight transport in ports mostly is characterized by an intensive internal transport flow and worldwide connections. The expected growth poses serious challenges to the supply chains and transport networks and the sustainability of local living environments. At the heart of these supply chains, Maritime ports play a key role as an interface between European markets and the rest of the world. The major European Seaports are now landlord ports. They increasingly invest directly or indirectly in better inland connections to their hinterlands. For them it is essential to understand how logistic chains get set up, which key factors lead the actors to choose one route or another. This concerns also investment in inland ports or to favor the development of new rail or barge shuttles for example. Furthermore, in the perspective of the new European transport policy for 2020, it is of interest how European supply chains could change and how port authorities could anticipate these changes and influence them.
An economic analysis of the European seaport system can be found on the webpage of the European Sea port organization.
Further interesting background information can be found in the White Paper on European transport policy for 2010 and at the International Transport Forum at the OECD.
II. European Ports Policy:
a) Communication on a European Ports Policy
The European Commission presented on 18 October 2007 its new communication on ports policy. Objective is to promote a performing EU port system able to cope with future challenges of EU transport needs. The communication provides guidance on the interpretation of Treaty rules and announces a number of forthcoming measures and soft law instruments. Hardly any legislative proposals are proposed.
Six fields of action are introduced:
- port performance and hinterland connections,
- expanding capacity while respecting the environment,
- modernisation,
- a level playing field with clarity for investors, operators and users,
- structured dialogue between ports and cities, and
- labour in ports.
b) Environmental Guidelines
The Commission is committed to reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and will contribute to establish measures aimed at reducing these emissions in ports, including through appropriate incentives.
c) Funding SSS/ MoS/ Marco Polo
The promotion of intermodal transport and Short Sea Shipping by these EU funding programmes and the component of intermodality can help to cope with growing congestion of road and rail infrastructure and of tackling air pollution. The “Motorways of the Sea” concept aims to introduce new intermodal maritime-based logistics chains in Europe, which should bring a structural change in the European transport organisation. Also the Marco Polo II program addresses the problems of modal shift.
Thes funding opportunities shall be examined and discussed between the partners and private operators.
