European Maritime Transport StrategyPerspective of European seaports

Patrick VerhoevenECASBA Seminar – Hotel Silken Berlaymont, Brussels

6–7 May 2009

Summary

1. General context

2. EU policy priorities seaports

3. Way forward

1. General context

Laid-up ships in Singapore

Port Jan-Mar 2008 Jan-Mar 2009 %

Rotterdam 26.892 21.985 - 18

Antwerp 24.292 20.256 - 17

Le Havre 4.482 3.362 - 25

Barcelona 6.211 4.134 - 33

Genoa 4.046 3.639 - 10

Marseilles 2.608 1.993 - 24

Helsinki * 2.630 2.071 - 27

Koper ** 79 85 + 7

Evolution container traffic in 000 tons

Source: port authority websites

* all unitised cargo

** 000 TEU

Trade reacts very strongly to economic cycle Illustration Rotterdam

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e 1e 2e 3e 4e

Throughput Rotterdam Growth EU 152000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20082001

9/11Current

crisis

Medium term future: three scenariosTHREE SCENARIO'S FOR THE MEDIUM RUN, throughput Port of Rotterdam

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

thro

ughp

ut *

mln

ton

regular recessionProlonged recessionDepression

But for the long run, solid traffic growth is expected

Basic challenges remain unchanged

• Integration in logistics chains:– Ports are key elements in value-driven logistics chains– This offers substantial network possibilities but also poses

numerous coordination problems• Strategies of market players:

– Powerful and footloose actors control freight from origin to destination

– Global groups invest and operate terminals in several ports worldwide

– These actors and groups have strong bargaining power• Sustainable development of ports:

– Ports development calls for continuous investment in port facilities and connections

– This creates ecological and societal pressures

2. EU policy priorities seaports

• 2009 EC Maritime Transport Strategy Communication

• Priorities for ports: 2007 EC Ports Policy Communication

• Six areas of work:– Performance and hinterland connections– Capacity and environment– Modernisation– Level playing field– Port-city dialogue– Work in ports

Performance and hinterland connections

TEN-T review:– Green Paper consultation until 30/04/09– Core network / comprehensive network– Identification conceptual pillar core network– Sustainability principal objective (climate)– Financing– ESPO conference Marseilles 14-15/05/09

Category A seaports under current TEN-T guidelines

Source: European Commission 2005

Middle East – Far East

Main shipping route

Americas

Americas

Transhipment/interlining port (transhipment incidence >75%)

Logistics core region

Multi-port gateway region

Inland corridor

Main shipping route

Gateway port

Gateway port also handlingsubstantial transhipment flows

Multi-port gateway regions1. Rhine-Scheldt Delta2. Helgoland Bay3. UK SE Coast4. Spanish Med5. Ligurian Range 6. Seine Estuary7. Black Sea West8. South Finland9. Portugese Range10. North Adriatic 11. Gdansk Bay

1

2

11

6

5

10

4

9

7

3

8

Logistics core regions and multi-port gateways – Source: Notteboom 2008

Capacity and environment

• EC guidelines on application environmental legislation in ports:– Expected to be finalised by summer– Focus on Birds, Habitats & WFD Directives– Exercise has not yielded expected results yet– Practical “checklist” proposed by ESPO & EuDA

• Climate change:– Implementation World Port Climate Initiative projects

(shore power and environmental shipping index)– IMO / EU developments

• Maritime spatial planning

Source: Kathleen Bailey, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Modernisation

• European Maritime Transport Space without Barriers:– Short-term measures EU level– Medium-term measures EU level– Recommendations Member States

• Legislative proposal on reporting formalities for ships sailing between EU ports

• E-maritime programme• Performance indicators

Level playing field

• State aid guidelines:– Eternal (?) dilemma within the Commission between “traditional”

and “radical” interpretation– ESPO believes public investment in maritime and land access

infrastructure to ports as well as in “general” infrastructure within ports does not constitute State aid

– Economic slowdown emphasises need for public investments

• Port concessions:– ESPO supports basic rules laid down in EC Ports Policy

Communication (“transparency obligation”)– Preparation ESPO Code of Practice and policy paper– Horizontal legislative initiative DG MARKT pending

City-port dialogue

• ESPO Award on Societal Integration of Ports:– Raise awareness among

port authorities– Reward innovative and

creative projects that bring ports closer to society

• ESPO supports project “People around Ports”:– Port image– City-port development– Work and education

ESPO AWARD

Call for proposals runs until 15 June 2009

Info: www.espo.be

Work in ports

• European Sectoral Dialogue Committee for Ports• Social partners prepare mutual agreements (ETF

& IDC, FEPORT & ESPO)• Initial focus on qualifications, training, health &

safety

Short-term EU ports policy agenda

Chapter Concrete proposals Timing

1. Port performance and hinterland connections

TEN-T review (hinterland connections to ports)

2008-2010

2. Expanding capacity while respecting the environment

Guidance on application EU environmental legislation

2009

3. Modernisation - Transport Space without Barriers

- Performance indicators

2009 + beyond

2009

4. A level playing field – clarity for investors, operators and users,

- State aid guidelines- Concessions (+ ESPO code of good

practice)

2009

ongoing

5. Establishing a structured dialogue between ports and cities

- European Maritime Day- Support for research projects etc- ESPO award

annually

ongoing

2009

6. Work in ports Social dialogue 2009 (?)

3. Way forward

• Socio-economic developments emphasise need for a stable and supportive policy framework

• Protectionist reflexes should be avoided• EU Maritime Transport Strategy fulfils these objectives

and is a good basis for the future• Implementation ports’ chapter progresses but in some

fields slower than expected• Immediate priorities:

– Integration of ports in TEN-T– State aid guidelines– Environmental guidelines– Common Maritime Transport Space

Thank you for your attention

Patrick Verhoeven - Secretary GeneralEuropean Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO)

Treurenberg 6 – B-1000 Brussel / Bruxelles - Tel + 32 2 736 34 63 – Fax + 32 2 736 63 25Email: mail@espo.be – www.espo.be