X-Posse is a Common Learning Action (CLA) project, partially financed by the Marco Polo II Programme of the European Commission,  that aims to promote green logistics alternatives through focused training actions on sea-river, sea-rail and marketing of these services.

Although it is easy to conceive the concept of sea-river and sea-rail operations and their impact on the environment, there is no training or ‘how-to’ material that demystifies the concept. Education and training are still very focused on the individual modes, thus interoperability is not passed into the training context. Moreover, the positive environmental impact of such solutions is understood by market forces. Hence there is a clear marketing gap, i.e. it is difficult to translate the benefits into an attractive service package.

X-Posse project will seek to fill in these gaps, being focussed on strategic actions to support the sustainable development of freight transport in cities.

Ports are becoming more and more knowledge based environments which need tailor-made and innovative education and training actions in order to support the sustainable development of intermodality and hence the seamless integration between the 'sea/port' side and the 'land' side throught 'greener' alternatives than road, such as rail and river.

X-Posse is therefore focussed on green logistic alternatives in order to ensure seemless integration of modes of transport (sea-river, sea-rail) throught new education and training concepts for interoperability. In doing so, X-Posse will address and offer solutions, ideas and business proposals through training and understanding.

The Marco Polo Programme is specifically intended to help cover initial losses of new intermodal services and logistical innovations. Applying for participation in the programme is possible once a year. Entrepreneurs in the transport and logistics sector who want to contribute toward achieving modal shift or transport reduction have the opportunity to apply for subsidy from the European Commission. The programme is applied for the implementation of new line services including, if any, supply chain distributions, in-out logistics, production processes changes and production sites developments/relocations.

We are talking about something tangible and real. No talks, nor “fried air”.
It is worthwhile to take this programme into consideration. A total of 450 million euro is available until 2013 for start-up subsidies for projects with viable business plans.
But the truth is that many operators dont even try to apply for funds. Why? First of all the lack of understanding, know how and experience related to the complexity of ‘Brussels’ rules, programmes, tenders, procedure and funds. Often what is unknown becomes not interesting. And this is a mistake because to miss opportunities means to hamper the growth.
In many cases resources to initiate or participate in projects are limited. For many companies preparing and submitting a grant application is an activity that has to take place in addition to the regular operational activities. This can mean that insufficient resources are available to pay the necessary attention to the many relevant details of Marco Polo and to comply with the strict deadlines.

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