Marco Polo is the EU’s initiative aimed at moving freight off the roads, onto more environmentally friendly methods of transport, such as short sea shipping. The programme provides a financial “safety-net” to cover the start-up losses of a new service, and also supports other complimentary activities, such as education and qualification in managing multi-modal freight operations.

The final terms for the 2010 Call for Proposals are unlikely to be concluded before January; however at this stage certain changes seem probable.

• The subsidy rate of €2/500t.kms will be maintained for freight moved off the roads.
• The budget total is €64m,  and 20% of this has been ring-fenced for Motorways of the Sea projects
• The opening date for receipt of bids is expected in Mid-March, with an initial indication of the successful projects by late July.
• Any Action started between July 2009 and July 2011 can be eligible

For 2009, more eligible bids were received than there was budget available. As each submission is graded, this has now become a competitive process. A thoroughly professional submission is necessary, therefore, to have a good chance of success.

Once it is finalised, the full document “Call for Proposals” will be put on the IMDO web-site.

Interested parties can contact Brian Richardson on 01-476 6508, or brian.richardson@marine.ie

Source: IMDO, December 2009