The project work will concentrate around three themes: The implementation of new economic activities in maritime areas, the improvement of conditions to stimulate economic regeneration there, and the management and promotion of the project. All partners work together on one North Sea related promotion plan, one toolkit for economic regeneration of seaport towns and one strategic action plan for maritime heritage buildings that can be used by all small and medium-sized seaport towns in the North Sea Region. The results will be a state of the art report of successful waterfront development and a guideline for waterfront development. All small and medium-sized seaport towns in the North Sea Region can use these documents. Also included are project management actions and promotion activities to facilitate networking and knowledge exchange between the partners of the SEAPORT project and other interested seaport towns.

The partners of the SEAPORT project will jointly contribute to the solution of some typical transnational problems. Based on common challenges and issues, the central aim of this project is to combine efforts to find combined innovative solutions for the economic challenges that occur in small and medium-sized seaport towns and maritime areas, to develop new strategies to strengthen the economic position of the seaport towns and their hinterland (maritime areas) and to redevelop the maritime areas if necessary.

Expected Outcomes

The project?s outcomes involve e.g. a joined North Sea related promotion plan, the development of a toolkit for economic regeneration, and a strategic action plan for maritime heritage buildings and sites. Also envisioned are a state of the art documentation of successful waterfront development, a guideline to waterfront development and a ?Vision and action plan for sustainable economic development in seaport towns?.

Activities

The partnership has elaborated a scheme of rotational screening, providing an exchange of knowledge on expertise level as well as a constant quality assessment of the performance of the partners. Activities are divided between pilot actions, such as carrying out a feasibility study, developing new branches that use fish leftovers or a facility for holding and processing velvet crabs for local, and key projects like reorganising maritime city-centre sites or linking urban and regional maritime tourism products and attractions through a "Shuttle Boat" along the coastline and the waterfront.

Reported Outcomes

Under the pilot action 'Fish restaurant environment and Headland improvement' taking place in Hartlepool the H20 Centre report has now been completed. It was concluded that the H20 Centre represents a viable project in order to attract visitors to Hartlepool and become a regional attraction. The report was presented to the council's cabinet and Hartlepool Borough Council have now agreed to commit £3million in principal towards the centre. Additional funding is currently being sought from a number of sources. The project is now envisaged as part of the long-term tourism regeneration strategy for Hartlepool. Under the pilot action Redevelopment Boulevard taking place in The Hague the light and sound show Illuminada was developed and constructed between The Pier and Kurhaus on the boulevard of Scheveningen. The spectacle ran from the 10th to the 30th November (21 days) and attracted a wide audience between 50-000 and 100-000 visitors. There was a continuing show for 2 hours every night after sunset. The Illuminada hardware and software for the show are flexible and therefore suitable to be used in other seaside and waterfront cities as well. The Illuminada project was presented to the Interreg projects - B-Sure, Waterfront Communities and RevitHar.