The European Shortsea Network, a networking platform for 21 European Shortsea Promotion Centres (SPCs), has published its annual report for 2008.

The report examines a broad range of activities that each SPC (including Freight by Water, the recognised UK shortsea promotion centre) organised throughout the previous year. These combined efforts have increased awareness of short-sea shipping throughout Europe and provided greater opportunity for interested parties to utilise this alternative mode.

The SPCs participating in the European Shortsea Network are based in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the UK and Turkey, which joined in 2008. (See links to access each SPC's website.)

The annual report highlights the importance of promotion to ensure the visibility of short-sea shipping and to help reach out to potential users. The importance of strengthened cooperation between Europe and its bordering countries is also highlighted.

The ESN has continued to expand over the last few years and continues to strengthen cooperation between its members through efforts such as the European School of Shortsea Shipping.

The ESN annual report for 2008 is available here.

For more information about ESN, click here.