Summary
There is a gradual growth and participation of containers in the world-wide trade, both in the USA and the EU, which created some sort of capacity problems in the major ports. Moreover, the truck-dominated transportation system caused a worse-situation on the important EU's transportation corridors. But short sea shipping (SSS) can provide the best alternative using the inland and coastal waterways. Moreover, SSS can provide many extra helps for the environment, the economy and the society as a whole. European Commission actively supports SSS as an alternative, environmentally friendly mode of transportation among the others. But there are obstacles, administrative barriers, and challenges that should be addressed and solved immediately. The commercial benefits of SSS should be presented to the shippers and ship-owners to attract them to this beneficial mode of transportation. This paper reviews the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) of SSS in the context of EU. Similarly, it figures out the numerical benefits derived from adopting the EU as an alternative of road transportation. Finally, it proposes unique advantages for the growth of SSS in EU than USA.
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Extract
Sustainable Aspects of Short Sea Shipping: A Case Study of Europe
1. Introduction
1.1 BackgroundDuring the last decades of the 20 century, it is agreed that we are carrying out our economic activities in such a way that is harmful for the natural environment. It is also recognized that the methods being used can be less harmful and more sustainable. New concepts came in existence like "Sustainable Forestry", "Sustainable Manufacturing", "Sustainable Agriculture", "Sustainable Tourism" and "Sustainable Transport". "Sustainable Transport" concept is important because most of the vehicles use "Petroleum" rather than other types of energy. The major question at this point is: What is the future demand for this fuel and will the planet be able to supply it? The vessels and vehicles that move freight today are powered by petroleum; this is true for 95% of the freight movements. So, transport systems are nonsustainable because of "Fuel" that is finite and nonrenewable (Leinbach and Capineri, 2007).Moreover, current transport system is placing emissions in the atmosphere that will eventually have impacts on the global climate. The impacts have already begun. The negative impacts of these emissions, mainly on the human body, must be viewed as a significant problem that can't be allowed. Transport system is becoming more non-sustainable (Leinbach and Capineri, 2007).Add...See the full content of this document
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