This paper is based on the work that the authors are doing as project manager and deputy project manager correspondingly of the SPHERE project (DGVII Transport Research Programme). At first, a concise picture of the current situation and future prospects for the small and medium sized ports in Europe is given. This is based on a comprehensive survey of 56 ports and 83 port users from13 European countries, conducted during the course of the project. Then the paper discusses the methodology of re-engineering current port processes and introduces the Value System concept which is suggested as the most suitable for fulfilling the identified requirements of the port system. (A)
Abstract