PROJECT EA SEA–WAY – OBJECTIVES

The general objective of the Europe Adriatic SEA-WAY project is to improve the accessibility and the mobility of passengers across the Adriatic area and its hinterland, through the development of new cross border, sustainable and integrated transport services and the improvement of physical infrastructures related to those new services.

Specific project objectives are:

·  to integrate and upgrade existing and new collective passenger (tourists and residents) transport service;

·  to increase the accessibility across Adriatic basin and decrease CO2 emissions;

·  to explore a better integration of urban and regional connections between ports, airports and main tourist destinations/urban areas;

·  to develop new or renovate existing infrastructures in the Adriatic port system in order to promote and encourage a more sustainable and efficient passenger transport;

·  to foster the passenger sea transport and other collective transport means connected to the port system;

·  to test new governance models in the light of the forthcoming Adriatic Ionian Macro Region.

WP4 - ASSESSMENT OF THE ADRIATIC PORT SYSTEM AND ITS INTEGRATION WITH HINTERLAND

The WP4 foresees the assessment of the Adriatic port system and its integration with hinterland, by collecting necessary information necessary for the successful and complete implementation of WP5 – Development of sustainable passenger transport models for the Adriatic basin and capacitiy building and WP6 – Pilot actions. The coordinator of the WP4 (Region of Istria), together with the University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Maritime studies and Transport), University of Belgrade (Faculty of Traffic and Transport Engineering) and University of Sarajevo (Faculty of Traffic and Communication), is responsible for determination of the methodology and assessments, on the basis of the available analysis and studies. All other project partners have to be involved in the data gathering and providing results, studies and analysis of past experiences and projects.

The activities of the WP4 are the following:

·  assessment of passengers behaviours and maritime/IW traffic flows in the Adriatic basin, current and potential traffic volumes related to existing infrastructures and services;

·  assessment of current and potential integration of Adriatic port system with hinterland, regional/local airports, rail network and main tourist destinations taking into account the system characteristics and market demand;

·  assessment of regulations related to passenger traffic (safety, security, passenger rights, passenger terminal services, info mobility) and possible initiatives for the harmonisation of regulations in partner countries;

·  assessment of scenarios linked to the development of passenger traffic, transport modal choices, physical infrastructures and services.

As result of the analysis and assessments, the Guidelines aimed to develop more sustainable passenger mobility will be elaborated, providing the base for the activities envisaged in WP5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4

The project activities 4.1., 4.2., 4.4 are focused on the identification of key components of the assessment on volume/composition of passenger traffic, condition of infrastructure in the ports and condition of services, as well as identification of requirements, weak points and potential strengths for existing ports and services. The results of analysis performed will be used as a starting point for the development of the scenarios linked to the development of passenger traffic, modal choices and infrastructures.

The project activity 4.3 is focused on the assessment of regulations related to passenger traffic (safety, security, passenger rights, passenger terminal services, info mobility) and initiatives for the harmonisation of regulations in partner countries. The Region of Istria, as a responsible beneficiary and coordinator of the activity, determined the working methodology necessary for the successful implementation of the activity, together with the University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Maritime studies and Transport), University of Belgrade (Faculty of Traffic and Transport Engineering) and University of Sarajevo (Faculty of Traffic and Communication).

The methodology includes the Questionnaire data collection about regulations and existing studies related to maritime passenger traffic on the EU, national, regional or other level, which is addressed to partners and relevant stakeholders (ministries of the eight partner countries, port authorities, regional authorities, universities, - Academic research institutes, itd.)

The above mentioned Universities, with the professional assistance of the Region of Istria, will capitalize past projects and analysis on the identified key areas, as well as carry out the assessments at EU, national, regional and cross-border level. Proposals for the harmonisation of analysed regulations will be done by the Universities, with the comments of the Draft Paper from the partnership and relevant stakeholders.