EC sees progress in European short-sea sector

EC sees progress in European short-sea sector    The European Commission adopted on Friday a communication that documents the progress made by the short-sea shipping sector in handling increasing freight volumes in Europe, as a more environmentally friendly alternative to road transport.
   Short-sea shipping continues to show growth compared to road transport. “Both grew by 25 percent in terms of freight transport during the period 1995-2002,” the EC said today. Short-sea shipping accounts for about 40 percent of all ton-kilometers for freight in Europe, while the share of road transport is 45 percent, it added.
   “Short-sea shipping has an obvious role to play in curbing the growth of road transport,” said Loyola de Palacio, European commissioner in charge of transport. “The new communication clearly shows that this mode is developing rapidly. Improving its framework conditions and making it simpler to use are necessities.”
   The EC report cited measures taken at the European Union and national levels to contribute to the growth of short-sea shipping:
   * Ongoing work with member states to identify and eliminate obstacles that hinder the development of short-sea shipping.
   * Adoption of a directive introducing the use of standardized facilitation forms for ships to arrive in and depart from EU ports.
   * Progress on customs issues, such as the advancement of e-customs and two EC working documents on customs procedures (“Guide to Customs Procedures for Short-Sea Shipping” and “Simplified Customs Procedures in Short-Sea Shipping: Authorized Regular Shipping Service”).
   * Focusing on the “Motorways of the Sea” program as part of the trans-European transport network.
   * Launching the “Marco Polo” program with a target to shift 12 billion ton-kilometers of freight off the road each year.
   * Coordinated work between the “Short-Sea Shipping Focal Points” promotion program, run by national maritime administrations, and the “Short-Sea Promotion Centers,” led by businesses.
   The EC policy is to encourage the short-sea shipping sector and shift freight away from road transport.