ABSTRACT
This paper presents a methodology for calculating external costs implied by intermodal transport chains, with particular focus on the specific features of its application to short sea shipping (SSS) using roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) and container ships. An existing methodology for the economic assessment of SSS routes, is extended to comprise the external costs of transportation. A transport networks model is utilized to assess the full transportation costs and, therefore, the true competitiveness of different SSS Ro-Ro and container routes in comparison with road and rail alternatives. The methodologies have been applied in a case study dedicated to the European Atlantic Area that includes different routes, using all modes of freight transportation: road, rail, inland waterways and maritime, in different countries, regions, road types and travelling conditions. The case study shows that SSS is a suitable alternative in terms of CO2 emissions and external costs, but not so much for SOx, NOx and PM.
