Crowded Mediterranean seas
The Mediterranean carried 15 per cent of world maritime traffic in 2006, and its share is growing. In some segments, that share is higher still: 18 per cent of crude oil passes through this enclosed sea. Overall, this means more than 13,000 merchant...
The Mediterranean carried 15 per cent of world maritime traffic in 2006, and its share is growing. In some segments, that share is higher still: 18 per cent of crude oil passes through this enclosed sea. Overall, this means more than 13,000 merchant ships plying the Mediterranean's waters in 2006, making 252,000 calls to 480 ports.
For the first time, reliable figures for the volume of shipping in the Mediterranean has been made available through a report prepared by Lloyd's Marine Intelligence Unit for the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (Rempec). Published in July, The Study Of Maritime Traffic Flows In The Mediterranean Sea is part of SafeMed, an EU funded MEDA regional project being implemented by the Malta-based UNEP/IMO centre Rempec that brings all Mediterranean states together to improve safety at sea and to minimise the risk of pollution.
One of the SafeMed project's five action areas, now in its third and final year before SafeMed II starts in 2009, covers safe navigation and in particular the development of traffic monitoring systems, allowing potential risks to be identified and accidents avoided, ensuring that emergency response services have a better idea of what they need to prepare for.
This report is the concrete result of the first stage of this line of action, to be followed by a geographical information service (GIS). It provides the basic information necessary for the assessment of risks, a baseline establishing the actual volumes of shipping across the Mediterranean and the number of ships on each route. It can be a vital tool in planning policy.
Rempec sources say the report is the first step towards the development of a maritime traffic GIS. Bringing together the maritime traffic data and Rempec's own records of pollution incidents in the Mediterranean, this is expected to become an invaluable source of information.
"We believe that this study is a good tool to better understand the typology of maritime traffic in the region, identify bottlenecks and foresee possible scenarios related to developments in the maritime industry," Federic Hebert, Director of Rempec said.
One such concentration of shipping traffic lies just north of Malta, including a substantial portion of the 10,000 annual transits through the Mediterranean Sea. The number relates to 2006; the report makes it clear that it will be increasing by about 23 per cent over the next decade, while overall traffic in the region is expected to increase by 18 per cent.
The expected growth is driven by economic development and an increase in consumer demand. New pipelines for oil and gas will reduce some of the tanker traffic. This may be offset by the current financial crisis, which has already affected shipping rates. However, sources in the maritime industry say that, with the increased price of oil, there are other factors at work which could accelerate the growth.
On a per tonne basis, shipping is one of the most energy-efficient means of transportation, and with the price of energy increasing - it is now one of the main components of the cost of transportation - more cargo is likely to be carried by sea. This has been recognised by the EU, which as been developing the concept of short sea shipping and the "Motorways of the Sea" as a more environmentally friendly option to long haul journeys.
Malta, lying on the ring routes covering both the Eastern and Western Mediterranean basins, is well placed to service this developing segment. Currently, only 18 per cent of trade between Mediterranean littoral states is carried by sea, compared to more than 33 per cent of trade between Northern European states. There is clearly room for growth.
Furthermore, the report highlights a trend to larger vessels, particularly on longer voyages and for Mediterranean transits. The largest container vessels now have a capacity of more than 12,000 TEU, with the boxes stacked 22 across. These ships need deep ports, with droughts of up to 18 meters: very few Mediterranean ports can handle them. The Malta Freeport at Marsaxlokk is one; in Italy, only Gioia Tauro can cater to the new generation ships.
This increase means that greater ports capacity will be required. The information in the report and the GIS in development will prove invaluable in planning future development of port infrastructure and services.
In Malta's case, it shows the potential of both the Grand Harbour and Marsaxlokk, already the sixth largest container port in the Mediterranean by 2006. In the Grand Harbour, the port services reform process is already bearing fruit as Valletta Gateway Terminals develops new business: this should be set to increase.
For the first time, reliable figures for the volume of shipping in the Mediterranean has been made available through a report prepared by Lloyd's Marine Intelligence Unit for the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (Rempec). Published in July, The Study Of Maritime Traffic Flows In The Mediterranean Sea is part of SafeMed, an EU funded MEDA regional project being implemented by the Malta-based UNEP/IMO centre Rempec that brings all Mediterranean states together to improve safety at sea and to minimise the risk of pollution.
One of the SafeMed project's five action areas, now in its third and final year before SafeMed II starts in 2009, covers safe navigation and in particular the development of traffic monitoring systems, allowing potential risks to be identified and accidents avoided, ensuring that emergency response services have a better idea of what they need to prepare for.
This report is the concrete result of the first stage of this line of action, to be followed by a geographical information service (GIS). It provides the basic information necessary for the assessment of risks, a baseline establishing the actual volumes of shipping across the Mediterranean and the number of ships on each route. It can be a vital tool in planning policy.
Rempec sources say the report is the first step towards the development of a maritime traffic GIS. Bringing together the maritime traffic data and Rempec's own records of pollution incidents in the Mediterranean, this is expected to become an invaluable source of information.
"We believe that this study is a good tool to better understand the typology of maritime traffic in the region, identify bottlenecks and foresee possible scenarios related to developments in the maritime industry," Federic Hebert, Director of Rempec said.
One such concentration of shipping traffic lies just north of Malta, including a substantial portion of the 10,000 annual transits through the Mediterranean Sea. The number relates to 2006; the report makes it clear that it will be increasing by about 23 per cent over the next decade, while overall traffic in the region is expected to increase by 18 per cent.
The expected growth is driven by economic development and an increase in consumer demand. New pipelines for oil and gas will reduce some of the tanker traffic. This may be offset by the current financial crisis, which has already affected shipping rates. However, sources in the maritime industry say that, with the increased price of oil, there are other factors at work which could accelerate the growth.
On a per tonne basis, shipping is one of the most energy-efficient means of transportation, and with the price of energy increasing - it is now one of the main components of the cost of transportation - more cargo is likely to be carried by sea. This has been recognised by the EU, which as been developing the concept of short sea shipping and the "Motorways of the Sea" as a more environmentally friendly option to long haul journeys.
Malta, lying on the ring routes covering both the Eastern and Western Mediterranean basins, is well placed to service this developing segment. Currently, only 18 per cent of trade between Mediterranean littoral states is carried by sea, compared to more than 33 per cent of trade between Northern European states. There is clearly room for growth.
Furthermore, the report highlights a trend to larger vessels, particularly on longer voyages and for Mediterranean transits. The largest container vessels now have a capacity of more than 12,000 TEU, with the boxes stacked 22 across. These ships need deep ports, with droughts of up to 18 meters: very few Mediterranean ports can handle them. The Malta Freeport at Marsaxlokk is one; in Italy, only Gioia Tauro can cater to the new generation ships.
This increase means that greater ports capacity will be required. The information in the report and the GIS in development will prove invaluable in planning future development of port infrastructure and services.
In Malta's case, it shows the potential of both the Grand Harbour and Marsaxlokk, already the sixth largest container port in the Mediterranean by 2006. In the Grand Harbour, the port services reform process is already bearing fruit as Valletta Gateway Terminals develops new business: this should be set to increase.