Priority 3: Improve accessibility and connectivity

Specific objectives of this priority include:

1. promoting cooperation between ports

Facilitating the development of ports as hubs of the blue economy by:

  • facilitating upgrades of infrastructure to improve connectivity with the hinterland, enhance intermodality and promote fast turnaround of ships through measures such as provision of shore side electricity, equipping ports with liquefied natural gas refuelling capacity and tackling administrative bottlenecks;
  • enabling ports to diversify into new business activities such as the maintenance of offshore renewable energy installations or tourism;
  • analysing and promoting port networks and short-sea shipping routes between European ports, within archipelagos and to the coast of Africa through initiatives such as Motorways of the Sea to increase seaborne traffic.