Development of Motorways of the Sea in the Adriatic region

Abstract

Freight volumes are increasing worldwide, following almost the same growth rate as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This has resulted in congested sections of the road system and increase of traffic accidents. Consequently, several governments in Europe are promoting alternative modes of transport. Besides the use of railways, the European Union is promoting the use of maritime transport for short distances. This initiative, ‘Motorways of the Sea (MoS)’, aims at the establishment of more efficient and competitive maritime services between different countries. The present paper analyzes the development of an MoS network in the East Adriatic area, linking the Greek Ports of Igoumenitsa and Patras in the Ionian Sea. This is done by identifying financially viable MoS corridors, servicing the freight and passenger demand of the area. Initially, the freight and passenger flows of MoS in the East Adriatic/Ionian Seas region, based on the application of the four-step methodology for transport planning, are estimated. Then, the financial viability of each MoS is elaborated, based on the estimated flows. Hence, the network of MoS services is determined for the area. Thus, the paper provides a useful tool to maritime operators, port authorities and policy makers to investigate the financial viability of an MoS network.

Keywords:

• Motorways of the Sea
• supply-chain
• Adriatic Sea
• freight and passenger flows
• financial viability

ORCID

Anna-Maria Lekka http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4862-5790

Aikaterini Rentziou http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5639-039X

Additional information

Funding

The contents of this paper are based on the elaboration of the projects ‘Developing of Motorways of the Sea system in the Adriatic region––ADRIATICMOS’, co-funded by the IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme of the European Commission and National Funds and ‘Viability study of implementation of Ro-Pax and Cruise lines among the ports of Patra and Igoumenitsa and the Adriatic ports’, funded by the Igoumenitsa Port Authority and the Patra Port Authority.