Pilot Projects: deadline to submit Pilot Projects has been postponed to the 15th of March 2008.

The calls for proposals of "Motorways of the Sea" Pilot Projects connecting South and East Mediterranean and Europe have been released.

In this frame, the MEDAMoS team has prepared a document gathering the Frequently Asked Questions and their answers.

Download :

MEDA-MoS Call for Pilot Projects - Complete version english (pdf, 400Kb)

MEDA-MoS Appel à Projets Pilotes - Version complète français (pdf, 400 Kb)

MEDA-MoS presentation call for Pilot Projects - English (pdf, 230Kb)

MEDA-MoS présentation appel à projets pilotes - Français (pdf, 230Kb)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - English (pdf, 41Ko)

QUESTIONS FREQUENTES - Français (pdf, 44Ko)

Pilot projects aim at improving intermodal/maritime transport axes and schemes, and increasing the use of maritime routes where feasible, and they are intended to serve as reference models for future Motorways of the sea, starting with the replication of their best characteristics as part of integrated transport solutions.

The characteristics of such solutions are detailed in the Call. They were elaborated with the participation of MEDA stakeholders and experts in thorough surveys of the existing ("pre-MoS") conditions and at Round Tables in each MEDA Country, then at sub-regional levels during technical workshops held in June 2007 in Marseille -for the West Med Pilot project- and in Cairo -for the East Med Pilot project-. They are reflecting the difficulties and expectations of the trade, feasible short term improvements, and medium term solutions towards the future implementation of MoSs.

The detailed characteristics of MEDA-MoS are detailed in the Call for Proposals.

They will be mainly based on improvements of existing operations and services, connecting European Ports and South and East Med. Ports.

Pilot projects should gather at least the following as main stakeholders.

• two operators of Port Authorities, responsible for the management of port operations, one in a MoS port Terminal in a MEDA Country and one in a European Country,
• one or several maritime operator(s) covering the sea link between these ports;

The partnerships should demonstrate their capacities to enlarge the scope of their services beyond port to port to regional dimension, and to offer integrated intermodal solutions, including land modes and maritime feedering as relevant.

In a context of competition between operators, MoS projects will yet benefit from a favourable environment comprising facilitation measures as a result of commitments from public and private sectors’ stakeholders.

MoS projects will be designed to add value compared to existing services in terms of:

• Quality: fluidity, punctuality, flexibility will be the keys to reduce delays, but also to anticipate incidents and propose compensations or alternatives.
• Attractiveness for customers: All services for MoS users will be coordinated all along the transport chain, ensuring a good access to information and a clear segmentation of prices.
• Enhanced intermodality through the coordination between all logistical and transport actors and through better connections with inland/logistics platforms;
• Information and Communication technologies for facilitation: MoS projects will integrate the ongoing and planned improvements of public information systems to answer the needs of business actors and to ensure punctuality, reliability, efficiency and traceability.

Particularly, for this last point, commitments from Customs and non Customs Authorities are expected to accelerate ongoing reforms and implement platforms able to integrate all procedures for end customers, One-Stop-Shop schemes and Single Windows system.

State of Art Information and Communications Technologies should aim at:

• Improving interactions between customers, transport services providers, ports and administrative authorities
• Fostering the use of paperless procedures: computerization of ship related documents, recognition of electronic documents and signature
• Ensuring safety and security of cargos, vessels and terminals, with tracking/tracing tools

MoS projects will include all requirements of the International Conventions in safety, security and environment defense.

Beyond the concrete improvements expected by these Pilot projects, the MEDA-MoS initiative, through the technical assistance to stakeholders and a dissemination of best practices, should contribute to enhance the overall reference standards applicable to all Mediterranean maritime/intermodal routes.

This call for projects is circulated in all Med Countries, in Europe, and to both institutional and professional circles. Proposals are expected by the end of January 2008. Until then, the MEDAMoS Team of experts are available to assist in the mobilisation of stakeholders and in the preparation of proposals.