The European Shortsea Network (ESN) participated in the 1st Meeting of the European Maritime Forum organized by the European Maritime Space of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. Sapfo Papakostopoulou, Director of Shortsea Promotion Center Greece, and Danae Tsopela represented ESN.
-Unfortunately, even though ESN was created to promote and enforce the European Union’s Policy, we didn’t have the expected support for at least a decade. As a result, today, there still is a significant number of obstacles hampering the further harmonious development of the European short-sea shipping industry that need to be addressed, even though the trans-European transport network strengthens the social, economic, and territorial cohesion of the Union and contributes to the creation of a single European transport area which is sustainable, safe, efficient and resilient, increases benefits for its users and supports inclusive development, says Mrs Danae Tsopela, Director at Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association.
According to Fit for 55, ESN should be a crucial stakeholder for the EU when it comes to topics concerning transportation and sustainability. It is a natural sparring partner in any discussion concerning how to move cargo in intermodal value chains and make transport more sustainable.
Danae Tsopela, Director at Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association
ESN suggests that the main priority areas where the European Commission needs to take action to enhance the further development of Short Sea Shipping are:
Support the industry in picking up new technologies to comply with new and stricter environmental legislation.
Provide the financial tools needed for achieving the fleet’s green transition.
Administrative simplification.
Promote port infrastructure—We cannot discuss green vessels without the necessary port infrastructure, such as cold ironing, alternative fuel tanks, etc.
Correct operational inefficiencies in terminals and achieve availability of transshipment terminals
Better integrate short-sea shipping links, constituting the maritime dimension of the trans-European transport network, with the landside network and emphasize the entire transport and logistic chain, both to sea and hinterland.
Create and upgrade short-sea shipping routes.
Develop maritime ports and their hinterland connections to provide an efficient and sustainable integration with other modes of transport.
Sapfo Papakostopoulou, Director of Shortsea Promotion Center Greece, and Danae Tsopela represented ESN.
