Motorways of the Sea

The Motorways of the Sea is a variant of combined transport of goods. To relieve of roads and railways, freight transport is shifted to a high-traffic corridor sea. The concept is based on a European Commission proposal for a Regulation implementing the second EU- funding program Marco Polo, which the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union had agreed in co-decision.

The concept

The 2004 forecast for the European Union by 2013, growth in road freight is more than 60 percent, and for the ten new Member States, a doubling is expected by the year 2020. The consequences would be traffic congestion, pollution, accidents and the risk of the loss of competitiveness of European industry, which is dependent on the supply chain management in a cost- efficient and reliable transportation systems. As a way out, the European Commission plans to relocate the Güterverkehres part of the sea. Suitable ports at strategic points should thus be linked to each other via high-quality sea routes.

According to the draft regulation should be established by 2010 four corridors. The Baltic Sea should be linked with the countries of Central and Western Europe. The second corridor would run along the Atlantic coast, bypassing the Pyrenees. The third would join in the Mediterranean Spain, France, Italy and Malta with each other, while the fourth, finally, ensuring the link from Slovenia to Cyprus.

Practice

In Italy, a compensation payment in the amount of 170 million euros was paid to freight forwarders 2007-2009. From 1.2 million truck ferries were used annually along the coast by this ecological subsidy.

Background

This approach would integrate the entire European transport network. Trucks with goods, container railway charges or entire trains could continue their journey after arrival in the destination country. In addition to the seamless integration of overland transports the selection of ports is important based on their infrastructure. Ideal are perfect connections to the road, the railway network and inland waterways.

The fact that the European Commission is going the way of the Motorways of the Sea, also has pricing backgrounds. The construction of four ships that come to the marine corridors in question would cost 400 million euros, a railway tunnel through the Pyrenees for the transportation of trucks, however, six billion euros. Another plus point is to avoid queues at border crossings.

In support, the future European satellite navigation system Galileo afford the transport control with great precision. It is forwarders and agencies the opportunity to accurately determine the position of a charge at any time.

Possible effects

Many regions in Europe are off the major transport corridors in Europe and can not fully exploit their economic potential. The Motorways of the Sea would have a great value for freight and are therefore particularly suitable for remote regions and islands have a chance. Natural barriers such as mountains could be circumvented and so shorter transport distances can be realized. This helps the regions possibly to develop economically and to be independent of weather conditions competitive.

The concept could create new jobs and bring the potential of regions. The concentration of the economy in certain areas would be avoided and thus ensure economic development of all regions. Depopulation and urbanization would be countered and created by improving the infrastructure more prosperous. This and decongest roads also could be the quality of life can be increased.