The projects must relate to:

1. The upgrade of port infrastructure, hinterland connections and dedicated terminals, where required to establish or expand such short sea shipping links with a focus on cross-border short sea shipping. Such projects must involve at least two TEN-T ports located in two different Member States. The share of investments between the ports should be reasonably balanced and result in the upgrading of the short sea shipping link(s).

It is strongly recommended that the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of the project, if applicable, addresses the traffic demand of the maritime link(s) which is the subject of the project and not that of the involved maritime ports. Traffic forecast shall be substantiated by commitments from the relevant shipping operator(s), for continuation and/or establishment of the transport operations on the maritime link(s) which is the subject of the project.

Port infrastructure required for the establishment or upgrade of the short sea shipping link(s) may include, amongst others:

• Providing or improving inland waterways/rail access and connectivity with the port’s hinterland e.g. through the upgrade of the last mile connections by railway and where possible inland waterways. Road access and connectivity with the ports’ hinterland will not be supported, except for projects located in Member States with no land border with another Member State.
• Basic port infrastructure such as turning basins, quay walls, berths, jetties, backfills, land reclamations, which improve the efficiency of the maritime ports and their integration within the TEN-T network. Support can also be given to fixed ramps, gangways, auto-mooring systems and other fixed infrastructure needed for the short sea shipping link(s).
• Port access and capital dredging aiming at providing safe maritime access in the form of breakwaters, access channels, fairways, locks and navigational aids (e.g. radar, buoys).
• Shore-side electricity supply including an upgrade of electrical grid within the port if it is needed for the shore-side electricity supply and excluding related installations on the vessels.
• Fixed port reception facilities for oil and other waste from ships (including residues from exhaust gas cleaning systems) to meet environmental requirements.
• Improvement of port handling capacity through the construction or upgrade of freight and/or passenger terminals, safe and secure parkings (the necessity of the safe and secure parking areas should be clearly demonstrated in the proposal), traffic areas, access control gates, etc., but excluding administrative/office buildings, passenger car parks, warehouses, storage areas and facilities, etc., as well as mobile superstructure (e.g. port/terminal equipment and vehicles, mobile ramps, etc);
• Digitalisation of port operations, excluding support to shipping operators.

Any internal service road, maintenance road, access road, etc. from/to/on quays, berths, terminals, rail yards, or any other location within the maritime port, even if needed for the Action implementation, will not be supported.

2. Projects facilitating the provision and use of cross-border short sea shipping links but not linked to specific ports. Such projects must cover exclusively facilities for ice-breaking to ensure year-round navigability. They should benefit and be used by the wider maritime community. They must include the participation of at least two entities from two different Member States.

Maritime vessels will not be supported, except for ice-breakers.

Facilities and infrastructure supported under CEF must be accessible for use by all operators on a non-discriminatory basis.