The project is structured in five work packages, where Motorway of the Northern Seas work package is an overall one, supervising work of the other thematic work packages and binding results together into a framework of NMC as a Motorway of the Sea in the TEN-T network.
Among the four thematic work packages three of them are characterised as strategic.
The first one compiles general requirements to the Motorway of the Sea as part of a continuous intermodal transport chain with the purpose to link NMC to the Motorway of the Baltic Sea and Motorway of the Sea Western Europe. It also creates a strategic plan for developing the NMC with regard to Short Sea Shipping services as well as connections to ports and terminals, linkage to rail and road.
Technological Development and ICT Tools is the next strategic work package that aims at increasing the use of suitable and compatible information systems and promote common standards for electronic transmission of relevant data.
The last strategic work package, Polycentric Port Scenarios and Framework Conditions for Short Sea Shipping, develops scenarios for future container transport that is expected to grow in the coming years. It also studies the framework conditions for sea based and intermodal transport in the North Sea countries, with particular emphasis on fees and other conditions that are disfavouring sea based and intermodal transport.
Finally, Market Communication and New Short Sea Shipping Services is a work package that constitute a direct follow-up of the present NMC project and is designed to make a basis for the present NMC partners to pursue initiatives for Short Sea Shipping services and other initiatives taken in the NMC project.