EU pledges record funding for port infrastructure

It has selected 134 projects to give grants to from its ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF), which is part of the EU’s trans-European transport network policy, the TEN-T policy that aims to develop a high-quality transport network across the EU.

For maritime, this will be done under the auspices of the European Maritime Space, ’a key component of the trans-European transport network, connecting and integrating maritime transport infrastructure in port areas with the landside network. This includes the creation and upgrading of short-sea shipping routes and the development of maritime ports in all EU Member States and their hinterland connection, including the outermost regions.’

Around 20 European ports will be upgraded and allow them to supply shorepower, the plan says.

These include Ennshafen, Austria; Limassol, Cyprus; Rødby Denmark; Puttgarden, Germany; Rafina, Corfu, Kavala and Lavrion in Greece; Gijón, France; Barcelona and Valencia, Spain; Aarhus, Sweden; Kemi, Pori, Vuosaari and Muuga, Finland; Rijeka, Croatia; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Valleta, Malta.

Inland waterway infrastructure will be developed to enable cross-border connections between France and Belgium in the Seine-Scheldt basin and between Romania and Bulgaria on the Danube, as well as supporting inland ports in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands ’so that they may continue to promote modal shift towards the European network of rivers and canals’.

Short-sea shipping routes are to be improved and developed, more offshore wind will be integrated into maritime infrastructure and port areas will be connected and integrated with the landside network ’to ensure an efficient, viable and sustainable integration of maritime transport with other transport modes’.

“The European Maritime Space aims to support efficient and resilient multimodal transport system across Europe,” the body says.