Ports bring both positive and negative impacts to the regions and communities in which they are located. On one hand (industrial) eco-clusters within ports can significantly contribute to the regional economic spin-off. Port-related activities stemming from the supply of goods and services can drive economic productivity and growth. Many of the positive effects of port regions spill over beyond these regions. On the other hand, port-related activities are energy and emission-intensive and can create negative externalities, such as negative impacts on regional accessibility.

Within the boundaries of the port, the advantages of clustering from a business perspective are clear. Shipping and port industries are highly dependent on sub-contracting and various kinds of services. Often a specialised labour market forms within the port, creating the need for cluster cooperation in the field of education and training. Related specialised (maritime) businesses - such as the trade, banking, legal and insurance sectors - can profit from the physical proximity, allowing for an easier flow of information.

The ESPON project ERMES identified four global trends that will significantly change the way European seaports operate in 10 years from now. These trends will not only influence the seaports themselves but will also provide opportunities and challenges for the urban-maritime region where they are located. The project used these trends to develop future scenarios for the regions of Liguria, Crete, East-Flanders and Malta - the four stakeholders of the project.

Optimisation of (port) operations

The need to optimise (port) operations is becoming increasingly important and there is a clear need for more efficient operations. This goes hand in hand with closer collaboration between different actors in the supply chain, circular economy principles, personnel requirements and economies of scale. Regarding the latter, economies of scale at sea have led to the deployment of ever larger containerships, which could lead to developments of new terminal infrastructures. Growing container volumes and the increasing sizes of ships could also lead to considerable pressure on cargo terminals, leading to congestion and negative environmental externalities. This scenario also looks at the potential requirement to optimise the transport chain, transport capacity and accessibility and/or efficiency.

Port regionalisation and multimodality

The competitiveness of seaports depends increasingly on the ease with which cargo can reach its final destination. The main bottlenecks of most ports are in the hinterland rather than on the coast. To ensure efficient and smooth access to the market in the future, ports will look to integrate their port system in a multimodal (or synchromodal) transportation network that connects port and inland terminals through hinterland connections. This integration should be coordinated between port developments and should also be in line with the planning of trans-European transport networks.

Innovation and digitalisation

Digitalisation and automation provide many new opportunities to increase port productivity and the efficiency of port logistics. Digital trends and developments include the use of information technology (IT) systems to manage congestion, increase capacity, increase the efficiency and effectiveness of gate operations and ensure adequate coordination and information exchange among operators. Examples of such systems include: (1) the use of automated and advanced IT systems at terminals to ensure efficient operations; (2) the use of advanced electronic data interchange systems to provide real-time information to port managers and integrate information flows from several operators; (3) the use of Internet of Things; (4) 3D-printing; and even (4) the development of autonomous transportation for various modalities (e.g. inland waterways, trucks, trains). These new digital trends and developments will also increase attention towards the importance of cyber-security.

Enhancement of sustainability

The urgency to transition into a more environmentally sustainable economy has a tremendous effect on seaports which are often heavily reliant on fossil fuel. Over the next decade, steps will have to be taken to ‘green’ the practices of port complexes. Bio-based alternatives and circular economy practices offer opportunities for these port complexes. Additional environmental requirements will need to be met by seaports for the ‘license to operate’ and the ‘license to grow’. It is therefore important that focus is places on environmental sustainability considerations in port development strategies. This especially applies to seaports that deal with a port-city interface.

The ERMES study determined which trends are most relevant for the four stakeholder regions. These are depicted in the table below. For Crete, Tourism was identified as an additional sector-specific trend. Within this trend, smart and sustainable tourism are important elements.

More information

Author: Thijs Fikken, Ecorys

Edited: Nikos Lampropoulos, ESPON EGTC

ESPON Targeted Analysis ERMES

Sandra Di Biaggio, ESPON EGTC