This book shows what role short sea shipping can play in the context of modal complementarity and what challenges European policy makers will face.

This book shows what role short sea shipping can play in the context of modal complementarity and what challenges European policy makers will face.

This book provides a thorough understanding of Short Sea Shipping (SSS) and its role in transport chains, presenting a revision of EU policies for SSS. Infrastructure and equipment required for the success of SSS are discussed, including critical features of modern roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships and terminals. Models are proposed for the evaluation of transportation demand in SSS, including the potential effects of external costs, and its results are used within the scope of methods for Ro-Ro ship and fleet sizing. A discussion of methods used to calculate such costs is provided, and a comparison of aggregated demand with and without internalisation of external costs is carried out, pointing towards solutions for ‘greening’ freight transportation. Applications of multi-criteria decision-making and simulation techniques to supply chains based on SSS are presented. The role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the promotion of SSS is also discussed. A number of case studies illustrate the different research methods and techniques. This book is a useful resource for students and researchers studying transportation, as well as policymakers and practitioners involved in this field and anyone with an interest in the promotion of environmentally sound transport solutions.

This book belongs to the Port Economics and Global Supply Chain Management strand of the Palgrave Studies in Maritime Economics book series, commissioned by Hercules Haralambides. This book discusses the main drivers that affect the introduction and growth of short sea shipping services. It describes and analyses the main operational concepts of short sea shipping and introduces relevant administrative and strategic approaches that enable its sustainable execution. Short Sea Shipping (SSS) comprises freight and passenger mobility by waterborne transport at a limited range, without crossing an ocean. Being a direct competitor to land-based transport modes, it uses ports and inland waterways to complement traditional transportation systems, increase capacity, improve flexibility, and contribute towards the goal of sustainable mobility. The reader will be introduced to various aspects of short sea shipping including benefits and shortfalls, relevant regulations and policies, and the applicability of short sea services within a given case or scenario.