Priority Project 21

 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PP21 on Motorways of the Sea (MoS) builds on the EU’s goal of achieving a clean, safe and efficient transport system by transforming shipping into a genuine alternative to overcrowded land transport. The concept aims at introducing new inter-modal maritime-based logistics chains to bring about a structural change to transport organisation: door-to-door integrated transport chains. It will also help implement the policy initiatives on the European maritime space without barriers, the maritime transport strategy for 2018 and will positively contribute to greenhouse gas (CO2) reductions which is of paramount importance in the context of climate change.

Motorways of the Sea taps on the huge potential of maritime transport as the backbone of international trade. In Europe, this capacity has not yet been fully exploited. Motorways of the Sea, which are based upon successful shipping routes, are designed to shift cargo traffic from heavily congested land networks to where there is more available spare capacity – the environmentallyfriendly waterways. This will be achieved through the establishment of more efficient and frequent, high-quality maritime-based logistics services between Member States.

Mr Luis Valente de Oliveira was nominated European Coordinator for this Priority Project in September 2007.

The MoS Helpdesk website also provides more information on MoS projects and funding opportunities.