The fast growing international trade of EU and the booming intra trade is a challenge for ports and their hinterland partners to build up competitive (under quality and cost aspects) transport chains to ensure an environmentally friendly and safe supply of goods to all regions of EU. Here feeder ferries and short-sea shipping and their inter-regional and intra-regional integration in the overall transport industry play a key role.
Furthermore, the EU undertakes a lot of efforts to promote these modes (c.f. Marco Polo, MoS) Three workshops and one best practice tour are analysing actual challenges and efficient solutions to strengthen this growing market. An accompanying study on
Feeder and Ferry Traffic potentials is offering the scientific background.