Adaptation of Small and Medium-Sized Ports in Motorways of the Sea (MoS) Systems

Small and medium-sized ports are currently underutilised within supply and logistics chains, yet many can be successfully integrated through optimisation. A significant share is located near large cities and industrial zones, a situation that can be exploited not only to make better use of the ports themselves but also to develop nearby cities and regions. The “integration” of small and medium-sized ports into the Motorways of the Sea (MoS) system encompasses technical, technological, organisational, and legal aspects. This article primarily analyses the adaptation of small and medium-sized ports to the MoS objectives from a technical and technological perspective. The adaptation of the technical capabilities of small and medium-sized ports, linking them with major ports, focuses on bypassing “overloading” in land transport systems, optimising the costs of transporting goods by up to 25–30%, and reducing environmental impact compared with road transport by up to 50%. The article presents a mathematical model for adapting small and medium-sized ports to the MoS system, assessing the cost of cargo transportation, the reduction in environmental impact, and the technical and technological utilisation of these ports.