The transport cluster initiative consists of eight leading organisations representing TransBaltic, Scandria, Rail Baltic Growth Corridor, EWTC II, BSR InnoShip, Amber Coast Logistics, Baltic.AirCargo.Net and Bothnian Green Logistic Corridor, which are all projects under the BSR Programme Priority 2. These partners, currently also involved in TransBaltic umbrella cooperation, set the formal framework for the cluster while also some other projects involved in the umbrella cooperation but not included in the cluster initiative has committed to contribute with support in some activities. The cluster intends to host discussions with projects representing other transnational spaces or cross-border programmes, which offer substantial value to the cluster activities. The initiative will act to for example; bridge project activities in the area of green transport solutions, develop showcase of successful financial arrangements for BSR transport and logistics, strengthen complementarities and synergies of projects’ results etc. with the overarching goal to improve the Programme performance regarding its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and reach to a wider audience.

The cluster is now preparing for its start-up in September this year with a first appearance at the BSR Programme Conference in Lilleström 19-20 Sep.

In this issue –

• Shaping the network of green multimodal transport corridors “To forestall the future course of events” – TransBaltic recently released its second edition in the Policy Report series, with which the project aims to inspire politicians, officials and private enterprises within the transport and logistics sector to take the relevant policy actions towards an integrated transport system in the Baltic region. The article presents extracts from the document focusing on the by TransBaltic designed transport development scenario for 2030 – the so called the “green scenario”, with alternative development trajectories steaming from IMO regulation and TEN-T policy.

Download the TransBaltic Policy Report 2011 here.

• Hub-and-hinterland development in the Baltic Sea region “It’s only the beginning” – Seaports are increasingly functioning not only as individual places that handle ships but as parts of supply chains and networks. A port’s potential hinterland can be defined as an area reachable at a cheaper cost or shorter time than from another seaport, which in turn results in port and carriage providers’ competition to service locations in the overlapping segments. The rise of economic centres in the Baltic area has created opportunities to develop water-based and land-based transport networks which allow increased hinterland penetration. With the emergence of inland terminals and dry ports, hinterlands are extended even further. The article presents ongoing trends in the development of hubs and hinterlands in the BSR based on a TransBaltic report presenting more in-depth information about the development aspirations of Port of Gdańsk and Port of Ust-Luga. 

Download the “Hub and Hinterland development in the BSR” report here.

• TransBaltic’s Final Conference ”Crossing macroregional horizons” - On 4-5 September 2012 TransBaltic invites you to its final conference, which will mark the closure of the project after three years’ of intensive work. The two previous conferences were hosted in the southern and northern parts of Sweden, namely in Malmo (Skåne) and Skellefteå (Västerbotten). This time the project has decided to cross the Baltic Sea’s horizon and invites interested stakeholders to gather on Cyprus. Read more about the theme of the conference.

Register for the conference here.

The fact that terminal investments are made by private sector awoke another question among the stakeholders, is unrestricted access conditions really feasible? It was suggested that a solution could be to differentiate between the mature terminals and the start-ups, with the latter allowed running own (restricted access) service until certain volumes are reached.

In the context of the TEN-T policy on intermodal terminals it was also suggested that the BSR should be paid special attention compared to other macroregions considering the areas special geographical characteristics which requires much ro-ro traffic. The macroregion’s sparsely populated areas with dispersed production also calls for another approach in transport facilitating policies.

Click here to get to the seminar presentations.

In this issue –

An economic game – An analysis of duty-free sales in the Baltic Sea region’s transportation system. Today, the Åland Islands play an important role in maritime transport in the Central/Northern Baltic Sea region as business thrives on board the ferry traffic to and from Sweden, Finland and Estonia as well as recently to Russia, all due to tax-free sales. Who would win and who would lose if Åland were deprived of its tax exemption?

In hopes of a good start – A regional approach to future transport planning. A future vision of the transportation system in the southeast Swedish region of Blekinge, presented in a recent TransBaltic report, provides ‘food for thought’ for the BSR’s decision makers on how clear goal-setting and wise planning could help reach the so often mentioned idea of sustainable transport, being efficient, reliable and environmentally safe.

The meeting was attended by project partners and stakeholders from research & development institutions, local government and business with relevance to issues concerning the development of the Baltic Sea ports.

The meeting focused on the current trends that can be observed in the Baltic Sea, particularly the transformation of some ports into regional transhipment hubs, which is mostly evident in the case of Port of Gdańsk. Within this context the seminar presented and discussed: ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) and their potential in reducing external transport costs, factors influencing the development of Baltic seaport network, as well as the existing transport infrastructure of Central Multimodal Corridor in the area of Westpomeranian Region. Moreover, a representative from the container terminal “DCT Gdansk” presented the terminal’s development strategy for the coming years and how their future expansion plans would benefit from the creation of sustainable transport in the Polish Pomeranian Region. The participants agreed that the current ambitious development actions and plans of Port of Gdansk will lead to realise its potential to become a Baltic transhipment hub.

Maritime Institute in Gdansk is currently preparing a report on the subject that will be available on TransBaltic website in end of March.

Next umbrella meeting will be hosted by Bothnian Green Logistics Corridor in Umeå 29 May, for which the allied transport projects are expected to have prepared input to the TransBaltic Macroregional Transport Action Plan.

The report also debate on the robustness of the integrated transport system in the Baltic Sea area, bringing up some specific aspects of dynamically evolving trade exchange between the Baltic Sea Region and new global economic powers, such as China and India – developmental driver that definitely will affect the geography of the freight flows and cast a challenge for the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the BSR. The report also describes some examples of business cases that can contribute to better transport co-modality and sustainable regional growth I might become subject for relevant transport policies.

Download TransBaltic Policy Report 2011 here!

Participants also emphasised that the dry port concept should be discussed as a TEN-T policy component as such facilities serve as an extension of several main ports.

Click here to view presentations from the debate that took place on Sorö/ Denmark Jan 19, 2012.

We would appreciate very much if you could help us by filling in below questionnaire which will take only 15 minutes of your time. All collected responses will be used exclusively for our analysis and will be treated as strictly confidential. The results of the survey evaluation will be presented at a workshop in Spring 2012 and incorporated into the operational and strategic output of the TransBaltic.

Download: Task 4.2 Survey_Human Capacity Building in transport operations

Please send the answers to vera.axyonova@sep-partner-hamburg.eu by 27.01.2012.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:  SEP SynergyEuropaPartner / Vera Axyonova / Phone: +49-40-383752

If the questions are out of scope of your competence, please forward the questionnaire to your colleagues or recommend us further potential respondents.