BPO sees big potential in the new TEN-T programme

The Baltic Ports Organization has carried out a study on the past TEN-T programme (2007-2013) and assessed the opportunities for ports within the new framework (2014-2020). The results are presented in a newly published report entitled Baltic ports in TEN-T Policy – achievements and future challenges.  

According to the report's findings, among the 32 MoS projects financed under the TEN-T 2007-2013 programme, 20 projects involve Baltic countries. 13 out of these 20 projects involve only Baltic countries, the others are a joint action of Baltic and other EU countries. The total cost of these 20 projects amounts to EUR 1,160.95 million, which constitutes 87% of the total cost of all MoS projects under the TEN-T programme. The TEN-T funding rate for projects that involve Baltic countries is at a level of 23.6% and amounts to EUR 273.65 million (84.2% of the total funding for MoS projects), of which EUR 168.22 million is granted to 13 Baltic projects only. Most of the Baltic MoS projects (14) address "wider benefit" issues. Most of these projects (9) concentrate on the environmental challenges (e.g. Sulphur Directive). There are only six maritime link projects (port-to-port) within the Baltic Sea region.

Bogdan Ołdakowski, BPO Secretary General, said: "the mentioned figures clearly demonstrate that the past TEN-T programme has recognized the Baltic Sea as a maritime highway in Europe. BPO appreciates this approach. The majority of the granted projects are of the ‘wider benefit’ type, there are only 6 maritime link projects. It is a clear signal that the future calls should adopt the procedures to the needs of ports in order for MoS TEN-T funds to be more attractive for port-to-port projects."

A new corridor approach to the TEN-T together with the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) tool for years 2014-2020 provides a new opportunity for the MoS network in the Baltic Sea. This opportunity is mainly to address core ports, but also for the comprehensive network, if they establish a joint project with core ports. Significant interest in MoS development should be of interest to cohesion countries (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland) as they can get up to 85% co-funding in the framework of the so-called cohesion envelope.

Potential investment projects in ports to be financed within the CEF tool, both for works and/or studies, can be presented as follow:

•    Development of land and water infrastructure in ports, development of terminals
•    Improvement of the transport access infrastructure and hinterland connections
•    Implementation of the ICT management tolls, including PCS
•    Port infrastructure for alternative fuels (e.g. LNG) and cold-ironing
•    Development of waste reception (also from scrubbers) facilities in the Baltic ports.

There are also opportunities to launch projects of wider benefits focusing on environmental port performance, mobility support, optimization of processes, implementation of traffic management systems and ICT applications.

Bogdan Ołdakowski concluded, "I am sure that every single Baltic port will evaluate its own opportunity in the pure port investment or maritime link projects. Our role is to initiate the multi-port projects based on the interest expressed by a few ports. We have already identified such opportunities in projects dealing with environmental challenges, e.g. new waste management in ports, LNG infrastructure, facility for cold-ironing, energy management in ports. There is a clear need among the ports to respond collectively to the new environmental challenges but also to share the experience and knowledge in this field before planning any investments."

Source: Report: Baltic ports in TEN-T Policy – achievements and future challenges, BPO, June, 2014.
 

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For more info please contact:
Bogdan Ołdakowski, Secretary General
Baltic Ports Organization
Phone: +48 502 559 631
E-mail: bpo.sg@actiaforum.pl