Brussels,

Short Sea Shipping

Short sea shipping (SSS) plays a crucial role in achieving the EU's climate and transport goals, particularly the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050 and the modal shift of 30% of road freight over 300 km to rail or waterborne transport by 2030.

Strategic Goals:
  • Reduce congestion on roads
  • Improve energy efficiency
  • Lower emissions in the transport sector
  • Strengthen Europe’s multimodal logistics chains

Main Challenges:Despite its importance, short sea shipping still faces numerous barriers that hinder its growth, including administrative burdens, environmental compliance challenges, and weak integration in broader logistics chains.

EU Priority Actions:
  1. Administrative Simplification
    Streamlining procedures and reducing bureaucracy, including harmonised documentation and e-Customs.
  2. Environmental Compliance & Innovation
    Supporting the sector in adopting new technologies to meet stricter environmental regulations (e.g., sulphur limits, fuel standards).
  3. Logistics Integration
    Promoting better integration with rail and inland waterways to form seamless multimodal transport solutions.

Institutional Support:
  • Shortsea Promotion Centres (SPCs) have been created in nearly all coastal EU countries to promote short sea shipping nationally.
  • The European Shortsea Network (ESN) fosters coordination and visibility of SPC efforts at EU level.

Other Key References & Resources:

Pilotage exemption certicates


​Pilotage Exemption Certificates (PECs) – EU Policy SummaryIn many EU territorial waters, the use of a maritime pilot is mandatory to help vessels navigate safely through congested or hazardous areas. The pilot acts as an advisor, while the vessel’s master retains full legal responsibility.

To support efficiency and cost-effectiveness, most Member States allow Pilotage Exemption Certificates (PECs), which exempt the vessel’s master or officer from compulsory pilotage when they demonstrate sufficient local navigational knowledge and experience.

Purpose of PECs
  • Facilitate Short Sea Shipping by reducing delays and costs
  • Improve turnaround times at EU ports
  • Encourage the development of a barrier-free maritime transport area

EU Policy Actions
  • The European Commission’s Communication on a “European maritime transport space without barriers” encouraged Member States to create non-protectionist, harmonised frameworks for PECs.
    🔗 Read the Communication (COM/2009/0008)
  • The Directive on reporting formalities (2010/65/EU) included a joint statement by the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission committing to examine a clear framework for PECs.
    🔗 Directive 2010/65/EU
  • In 2011–2012, the Commission launched a stakeholder consultation and commissioned an external study on PECs, published in October 2012.

PEC Conditions
  • Usually limited to specific vessels and routes
  • Subject to national regulations
  • Conditions for issuance must be reasonable and non-discriminatory

Key Documents