Shortsea shipping promotion and optimization issues have been repeatedly emphasized by the EU Commission and long-term researchers of the segment. The problem we are facing today is, that many commercial players still wrongly approach shortsea shipping with scepticism, as a bit outdated mode of transport; besides there are numerous administrative obstacles and factors involved that impede ultimate integration of shortsea shipping into the existing intermodal and multimodal transport chains. Inadequate infrastructures of port terminals, lack of logistics elements, as well as protectionism related barriers existing in the EU member states, all these urge the necessity to investigate the feasibility and potential of shortsea shipping across the EU.

Shortsea shipping promotion and optimization issues have been repeatedly emphasized by the EU Commission and long-term researchers of the segment. The problem we are facing today is, that many commercial players still wrongly approach shortsea shipping with scepticism, as a bit outdated mode of transport; besides there are numerous administrative obstacles and factors involved that impede ultimate integration of shortsea shipping into the existing intermodal and multimodal transport chains. Inadequate infrastructures of port terminals, lack of logistics elements, as well as protectionism related barriers existing in the EU member states, all these urge the necessity to investigate the feasibility and potential of shortsea shipping across the EU.