Europe’s Major Ports Opposing Mediterranean Switch

Europe’s major port operators have shot down the latest EU proposal to shift investments to peripheral ports in the Mediterranean, saying that the allocation of EUR 12 billion (USD 15.3bn) funds should not be motivated by geopolitics and cohesion policies.

European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON) proposed an European investment policy to interlink second-tier cities and to enhance Mediterranean port infrastructure in order to facilitate container flows between Europe and Asia.

The report, published during the TEN-T days held in Brussels, October 9-10,  further states that this would save time, Euros, emissions and contaminants and alleviate congestion.

The North West European Ports however, retain the contrary to be true, the Port of Rotterdam says in a release. Research conducted in 2011 by the independent research agency NEA concludes that the northern seaports offer the most efficient route for container transport into a large part of the central European hinterland.

Seven ports located in the North of Europe have four times the container throughput of the principal eleven ports competing along the Southern coastline of Europe, according to the release.

The analysis indicates that the distribution patterns underlying these shares are efficient, and are explained by a persistent combination of economic and geographical factors. The NEA analysis was verified by the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management in Antwerp.

The North West European Ports believe that an investment policy focussing on peripheral ports will therefore result in insufficient return on public investments.

The release was issued on behalf of Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge, Port of Hamburg, Port of Bremen/Bremerhaven, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Amsterdam, Groningen Seaports and the Port of Moerdijk.