MED-TRACKING initiative meeting
On June 25th 2010, in Civitavecchia - Italy, the
MED-TRACKING initiative meeting took place, entitled "Med-Tracking
Challenges in the Mediterranean: Inter-Modal &
Inter-Operability & Hinterland Green Transport of Goods". This
Symposium was organized by the City of Civitavecchia, the Faculty
of Engineering of the La Sapienza University of Rome and the
Network of Polytechnic Schools of the Mediterranean (Réseau
Méditerranéen des Ecoles d' Ingénieurs -
RMEI).
The business and innovation community "Med-Tracking" was
launched in November 2009 in Marseille, for the development of a
prototype for tracking freight and various transport modes. In
addition to the members of the RMEI, the community associates
representatives of port authorities, industry (companies),
representatives of transport ministries and the customs and
researchers in logistics and transport.
More specifically, "Med-Tracking" community foresees a series of
actions, which will provide a framework for exchanging best
practices, accurately quantifying the stakes in terms of markets,
identifying needs with regard to training for the players and
preparing for specific actions (market studies, development of a
prototype, pooling of research, training and test facilities),
which should result in the achievement of strong investments by
2015, in order to meet the challenges raised by the secure
transport of containers and the difficulties related to costs and
security issues. The process is based on the analysis of end-user
needs. A market and positioning study completed recently and
consists the basis for delivering recommendations for specific
actions.
Representatives of the Polytechnic Schools of Rome, Naples,
Venice, Marseilles, Limassol, Tunis, Marrakesh and Thessaloniki
participated in this Symposium, which coincide with the Final
Meeting of the 1st Phase of the Med-Tracking Initiative.
After the presentation of the results of the 1st Phase,
which actually concerned a market analysis/ feasibility study for
the development and introduction of the tracking system in the
Mediterranean Region, a discussion was made for the implementation
of the 2nd Phase of the initiative.
M. Miltiadou from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
(SEETAC ERDF PP-9) participated in the Symposium and also in the
preparatory meeting that took place at La Sapienza University on
the previous day. During the Symposium works he gave a presentation
entitled "Freight Transport in SEE: Initiatives - Actions -
Networks". In the context of his intervention, the speaker informed
the participants on the SEE Transport Axis Cooperation and about
its contents and aims.
Especially concerning the final outcomes of SEETAC, which
comprises the prioritization of projects and some pilots for
immediate promotion, it was once more discussed the potential of
the synergy of the two initiatives, since the concept of
Med-Tracking and its application in the Mediterranean, as well as
in the region of the South Eastern Priority Axis (SEETAC study
area), is envisaged to promote transport safety and security,
interoperability and intermodality, and hence the increase of the
multimodal operations and logistics services and transport
demand.