by Ralf Fiedler, Group Manager Ports and Transport Markets, Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services

According to a 2016 study by the European Sea Ports Organisation, most ports in Europe are publicly owned (some 87% by a municipality or city).

Public ports - even if they operate as 'private' under commercial law such as GmbH, Ltd, or AB - compete with a number of other obligations that public authorities have to meet in terms of the necessary expenditure from their budgets.

Additionally, further funding constraints due to the recent economic downturn will certainly play a role, too.

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