GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

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, with a priority on:
  • development of zero or low-emission multimodal solutions;
  • development of ports capacities and facilities in relation with the transportation activities of the 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; and/or,
  • improving connectivity of remote, insular or outermost regions or of Member States with no land border with another Member State.

Such basic port infrastructure may be in the form of turning basins, quay walls, berths, jetties, backfills, land reclamation, which improve the efficiency of the maritime ports and their integration within the TEN-T network. The backfills and land reclamation could be supported as interventions to create space for construction of other basic port infrastructure, e.g. a berth, quay walls, etc., but should not lead to significant added capacity (i.e. increased surface of or creation of new terminals, logistics/cargo/multimodal handling areas, etc.).

• shore-side electricity supply (including an upgrade of electrical grid within the port if it is needed for the shore-side electricity supply, and excluding related installations on vessels);
• fixed port reception facilities for oil and other waste from ships (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. This must be demonstrated in the proposal and accompanied by appropriate Cost Benefit Analysis (if applicable) justifying the short sea shipping traffic and corresponding dredged depth.
• providing or improving inland waterways/rail access and connections within maritime ports. The rail access could cover rail infrastructure e.g., new rail tracks, upgrade of existing rail tracks, adaptation for 740 meter long trains and connections within the maritime ports, necessary utilities installations (e.g. electricity) needed for the railway operations. Road access and connections to/within maritime ports will not be supported, except for projects located in Member States with no land border with another Member State.

Works projects may include on-site renewable energy generation (synergetic element in accordance with Section 10.6 of the Work Programme) such as grid connection from the port to the grid outside of the port needed for the shore-side electricity supply, photovoltaic power plants, wind turbines, etc. that is primarily used for example for the shore-side electricity supply, for the need of the basic port infrastructure and for diverse port operations. Such synergetic elements must improve the socio-economic, climate or environmental benefits of the project and may not exceed 20% of the total eligible costs of the project.

Support will not be given to:

Hinterland connections to the maritime ports are covered by the respective transport mode priorities but may be part of a single project (for instance a project improving the rail access both within and outside the port area). Projects combining hinterland access both within and outside the port area may be submitted either to the maritime ports or to the inland waterways/rail topics as appropriate.

Any internal service road, maintenance road, access road, etc., from/to/on quays, berths, terminals, rail yards, or any other location within the maritime port, even if needed for the Action implementation, will not be supported.

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