Bottlenecks Concerning the Short Sea Shipping (SSS)

1-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
In general Short Sea Shipping has a very positive business image. However, some shippers and forwarders continue to consider it as not having full integration into the intermodal chain; having long transit times and costing more than land based modes.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Demonstrate to potential users that SSS is a flexible, reliable, cost and time efficient element of intermodality. All parties concerned

2-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Road transport requires less stringent regulations and documentation for dangerous cargo than is required for sea transport.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Harmonization of regulations between transport modes

3-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Despite common EU regulations, local customs officers have their own procedures and/or own individual interpretation of EU regulations.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Better communication throughout customs services; Understanding by all involved that common EU Regulations need to be strictly observed.

4-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Linguistic difficulties with administrative documents.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Use English as official language for all administrative documents, without prejudice to the use of the national language or two language versions at national level

5-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Electronic manifests not accepted; electronic stamps not recognized in customs procedures

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Implementation in all Customs offices.

6-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
‘Line vessels’. Vessels operating a ‘regular’ service between two EU ports, but calling at a port outside of the EU en route (including freeports), have to go through all customs procedures for all cargo (i.e. including EU).

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Change in customs legislation to enable the two types of cargo to be treated differently.

7-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
An operator can only obtain a ‘Regular Liner Service’ licence for a given port when he has a vessel serving that port, (i.e. licence linked to vessel and not operator).

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

The license “Regular liner service” should not be connected to one or more vessels, but should be given to the shortsea operator. Also the problems that arise when shortsea operators
take slots on vessels from other shortsea operators (NVOCC) can be solved in this way.

8-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Lack of comparable Statistical Data on SSS in Europe

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Continued work on collection of reliable maritime statistics including origin/destination matrices and comparable land/sea statistics for SSS; devising reliable matrix for converting tonnes carried by SSS into tonne-kilometres performed.

9-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Lack of an intermodal liability regime.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Damage rates could be made public or be used in company strategies to show the reality and not give room for contradictory perceptions. An intermodal liability regime

10-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Each mode of transportation in the intermodal chain should cover its own share of costs including external costs. Difficult for SSS to compete as road and rail are not covering their costs.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Introduction of price covering infrastructural costs/dues

11-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Unequal distribution of incentive measures among the various modes (e.g. Distortion of competition by national railway companies)

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Community and national policy should aim at creating a greater balance. Further liberalization of European railways

12) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Distortion of competition in favor of road, due to lack of border control regarding the amount of fuel carried into the EU by trucks coming from 3rd countries.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Implementation of diesel import schemes by the ‘EU border states’.

13-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Variation in national regulations concerning the maximum allowable weight of goods vehicles on roads

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

‘Supra-national’ legal instrument to bring about a harmonized approach.

14-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Lack of competition in the port services market. Existence of protective practices denying free access to other operators for port services.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Persuade relevant parties to review / abandon restrictive practices.

15-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION
Non-flexible working conditions in the ports, both as regards calculation of waiting time, idle time, over-time etc.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Commencement of operations upon arrival of ship with the resources required without additional expenses

16-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION

In some ports SSS has to compete for port facilities with priority given to ocean shipping

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Ports should provide corresponding level of service for all users without discrimination

17-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION

Use of EDI for transmitting data between ports is still not generalized.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Widespread use of EDI between ports. Use of a telematic management system for shipments into and out of ports

18-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION

Defective motorway and railway connections to TEN-T.

SOLUTION PROPOSAL

Increased capacity of port infrastructure and construction of intermodal and logistic platforms in port hinterlands

19-) BOTTLENECK DESCRIPTION

Ineffective and insufficient land links/routes from/to sea ports. Lack of logistic centers and intermodal terminals

SOLUTION PROPOSAL