Maritime ports – studies, works or mixed

The objective is to develop infrastructure projects in maritime ports on the Core Network of the TEN-T.

studies and / or works on core maritime ports, related to:

• port access aiming at providing safe maritime access in the form of breakwaters, access channels, fairways, locks and navigational aids (e.g. radar, buoys);
• basic port infrastructure^[1], with a priority on:
  • development of zero or low-emission multimodal solutions, or;
  • development of ports´ capacities and facilities in relation with offshore wind farms. The involvement of the maritime port in the transportation activities of the offshore wind farms and the need for the basic port infrastructure for those activities should be demonstrated in the proposal, or;
  • improving connectivity of remote, insular or outermost regions^[2] or of Member States with no land border with another Member State;
• shore-side electricity supply (including an upgrade of electrical grid within the port if it is needed for the shore-side electricity supply);
• port reception facilities for oil and other waste (including residues from exhaust gas cleaning systems) to meet environmental requirements;
• ensuring year-round navigability by means of capital dredging and ice-breaking facilities. The capital dredging will be supported only as an intervention to remove bottlenecks for the EU Short sea shipping.
• providing or improving inland waterways/road/rail access (rail infrastructure, for example new rail tracks, upgrade of existing rail tracks, adaptations for 740 meters long trains) and connections within maritime ports.
• on-site renewable energy generation (synergetic element) such as photovoltaic power plants, wind turbines, etc, for example for a shore-side electricity supply, for the needs of the basic port infrastructure and for diverse port operations. Such interventions must improve the socio-economic, climate or environmental benefits of the project.

Support will not be given to infrastructure dedicated for cruise ships, except as regards shore-side electricity supply.

Support will not be given to studies and/or works related to maintenance dredging, dredgers and/or dredging equipment.

Support will not be given to studies and/or works addressing digital port solutions/ICT platforms.

Hinterland connections to the maritime ports are covered by the respective transport mode priorities. Projects combining hinterland access both within and outside the port area may be submitted either to the maritime ports or to road/rail topics.

Hinterland road access within/to the maritime port can be supported only if a rail access does not exist at the time of submission of the application and as long as the project does not aim at increasing road transport capacity, but addresses a significant bottleneck.

The basic infrastructure for development of zero or low-emission multimodal solutions could include basic infrastructure for improving the interconnection between the maritime transport and inland waterways.

Support will not be given to utilities (e.g. water, electricity, lighting) installations, automooring, fixed ramps, dolphins, bollards, fenders, and other auxiliary port infrastructure, unless such interventions are an integral part of a relevant basic port infrastructure which is the main element of the project.

Support will not be given to studies and/or works addressing superstructure (e.g. cargo/passenger terminals, parkings, check-in buildings, storage and stacking facilities, warehouses, multimodal platforms, access gates, cranes, multimodal equipment and vehicles, etc.).

In accordance with Article 9(2)(a)(i) of the CEF Regulation, projects addressing the Core Network may include related elements on the Comprehensive Network, when necessary to optimize the investment. These elements may form up to 10% of the total eligible costs of the project and shall be presented as a separate work package.

Facilities and infrastructure supported under CEF must be accessible for use by all operators on a non-discriminatory basis.

[1] Basic port infrastructure may be in the form of turning basins, quay walls, berths, jetties, backfills (for creating space for other basic port infrastructure, for example a berth, quay), land reclamation, which improve the efficiency of the maritime ports and their integration within the TEN-T network.

[2] As defined in Article 349 TFEU.