The objective of this study is to facilitate the Short Sea Shipping (SSS) industry reach its full marketing potential through the deployment of strategies pertaining to co-modal networks1. It is shown in the PROPS Business Case2 that successfully increasing intermodal services between Southeast Ireland and Northern France by one RoRo vessel would provide combined revenues to the ship operator, associated haulage firms and ports / terminals of €61M per year and transport savings of €13.5M to shippers. The outstanding benefit from such a venture would be an estimated combined wealth increase of €429M in the two trading states if, over time, 10% of the cargoes carried by the vessel were accounted for by new trades stimulated by cost savings and service excellence associated with the extra vessel. The objective of the study, therefore, is of importance to every European state. The measures that are proposed to realise the study objective are divided into two sections:

Section 1 is the determination of the key parameters affecting short sea shipping. It has six sub-sections:

1.1 Identifying the logistical priorities of shippers;

1.2 Quantifying unitised cargo movements between states;

1.3 Establishing the operational characteristics of transport modes;

1.4 Quantifying the hinterland and foreland markets surrounding trading ports;

1.5 Identifying the specific transport requirements of targeted shipper segments.

Section 2 is the devising of co-modal transport solutions for short sea shipping. It has four sub-sections:

2.1 Identifying the various types of networks in intermodal transport;

2.2 Defining Co-Modal Transport Networks;

2.3 Alignment of Co-Modal solutions with shippers’ marketing requirements;

2.4 Realization of Co-Modal Transport Solutions.

The conclusion of this study is that co-modal transport is an essential part of shippers’ marketing function and it requires cooperation between shippers and transport service providers for its potential to be realised. The collective benefit of individual co-modal efficiencies is the facilitation of trade between European states and between Europe and the rest of the world, which is a proven mechanism for sustainable wealth generation in the trading states.