The aims were:
To give SME ports in the Channel area and the southern North Sea additional capacity to be more resilient for changes and open to innovation.
To develop joint economic activities in the maritime & logistic industry to enhance competitiveness and increase cross-border entrepreneurship in this sector.

Its main objectives were:
- To improve the quality of the management of the participating ports, by upgrading the staff's skills via eLearning training & by pooling resources to rationalise cross-border port operations
- To enhance the diversification of the economic activities in the ports & the economic cross-border cooperation by sharing best practices on novelty solutions and by introducing innovation and energy efficient measures in the hubs of local-regional economic development;
- To improve the quality of the logistic operations on both landside and seaside via strategies & pilots for port infrastructure modernisation.

The following activities were achieved: partnership meetings, launch and closure conferences - ‘Adapting Coastal and Port Industry to Regional Needs’ in London, and ‘Port Management & Port Financing - Ports working together towards a sustainable future’in Southampton

Activity 1: Cross-border management collaboration for port adaptation: An analysis of the PATCH ports' strenghts and weaknesses; 4 wokshops were held: ‘Dredging and Surveying’ in Vlissingen-Terneuzen; ‘Port planning and development for a sustainable future’ in Portsmouth and ‘Sulphur Directive 2005/33/EC: implications for ports’ & ‘Construction of port quay walls’, in Zeebrugge.

In addition 1 eLearning platform was developped to upgrade the Partners' staff skills, 3 webinars and 1 pilot held in Calais

Activity 2: Improving the cross-border economic dimension of port development

- 1 report on the potential pooling of resources among PATCH partners on the topic of renewable energy (wind farms)

- 3 B2B ‘Newhaven gateway to Europe and strategic location for your business’, held in London; ‘Renewable energy & offshore wind-energy in ports: a challenge for diversification. Ostend gateway for renewable energy’, held in Ostend; ‘Eco-innovation in the Channel ports: tomorrow’s logistics for the port of the future’ held in Calais)

- 1 workshop (‘Blue Energy. Opportunities for ports from wave and tidal energy’, held in Ramsgate)

In addition 1 report was published on Ports Public-Private Partnerships for infrastructure financing, 1 conference ('Increasing the competitiveness of Europe’s Marine and Boat Building Industry’held in Brighton), participation with stand at Just-in-Log held in Lille and 2 pilots developped by the Lead Partner and partner5.

Activity 3: Improving the cross-border logistic dimension of port development

- This included 1 workshop - ‘Ports, infrastructure and effective use of logistics modes’, held in Nieuwdorp; the participation in Southern Manufacturing Fair, held in Farnborough, an inner port management strategy for future adaptation by partners 6 and 7 and brownfield redevelopment by the Lead partner (LP), quay upgradingby partner 3 and Multi Utility Provider by partner 9.

The results achieved include: 2 conferences, 4 wokshops, 1 Consultancy for the traffic/flows management inside the port area' and an Engineering study for the investment preparation, 1 eLearning portal 1 video archive and 3 webinars. In addition there was a Study on the possibilities to use green energies in the port of Calais.
There were 3 B2B, 1 workshop, 1 conference, 1 stand (Just-in-Log workshop), 2 pilots developped by lead partner and partner 5.
In addition 1 workshop on intermodality was held in Nieuwdorp, 3 stands at the Southern Manufacturing Fair and Seawork, 2 port master plans developped by partner 6 and partner 7, 2 transport connectivity studies by partner 8, 1 report on cooling systems by partner 6, 3 BC Water, Electricity, Heat and PlanMER & Route design by Royal Haskoning and a Business Plan, a Flanking Policy and a workshop entitled 'Watermiddag: re-using waste water oppurtunities' by partner 9. Four pilots were carried out by the lead partner, and partners 3, 5 and 6.

In the long term, PATCH was successful in increasing the role of its participating SME ports in international logistic chains by strengthening management skills and investing in new economic ventures which helped to fill imbalances between global & local players, regions & their communities.

In the short term, PATCH allowed its ports, connected industries located in proximity of port areas (marine, logics, energy) and neighbouring private sector companies to work together to increase their capacity, visibility, ability to change.

The effects and outcomes are better port infrastructure, operations and energy efficiency.

Thanks to PATCH, the participating ports in the English Channel and southern North Sea have worked to adapt to the new global market demands, by diversifying their activities and optimising their operations/infrastructure.

The exchanges between Ramsgate & Ostend, which are inter-reliant by being directly linked by a ferry connection - have helped them optimise the investments dedicated to new offshore wind farms. This has enabled their respective regions (Thanet & West Flanders) to grow and become more sustainable by developing renewable energy schemes integrated to the traditional network and by offering new job opportunities.

The innovative technical solutions implemented in Portsmouth's new terminal were able to enhance the energy efficiency and performance of the building, thus providing a best practice not only for Hampshire, but for the whole UK and beyond.

The Port of Ramsgate implemented new dredging techniques that were developed during a specialized workshop organized by Zeeland Seaports. Identifying new cost-efficient ways of dredging helped lower the strain on local public funding. Better traffic management in PATCH port territories - In Calais, the port's operations have been optimised via large traffic signs on the bypass which have improved the flow of traffic within the port area, with positive environmental effects in the NpdC region, and modernisation of the Calais-Dover cross-Channel route. Better relationships between PATCH ports and local communities - The involvement of the local community in the Port Master Planning process of partner 6 and 7 contributed to improve the relationship with the town, the local industry and the general public.

Cross-boder working has enabled the partners to minimise investments, increase know-how and upgrade staff skills by sharing the expenditure of joint events & eLearning programme. It has also enabled the testing and exchange of info on innovative solutions (Parner 5 introduced a novelty dredging technique after attending Partner 9 workshop on sedimentation management, thus improving its operations). The experience of Partner 5 and the Lead Partner with wind farms allowed them to better plan the logistics to serve the offshore energy industry.

Interreg IVA 2 Seas Connect 2 Compete project organised a joint conference ‘Adapting Coastal and Port Industry to Regional Needs’. The mid-term event for C2C and launch for PATCH allowed the 2 complementary projects to assess the main challenges ports have to face in modern times, in terms of both outer and inner port issues and opportunities.

-The Interreg IVC project “SuPorts - sustainable management for European local ports”: presented PATCH at their 1st Annual conference and shared best practices in the fields of environmental protection in ports, harbour dredging, and the involvement of economic and social actors in environmental management.

- The Interreg IVA Central Baltic project PENTA: exchange of know-how on impact of Sulphur Directive on EU with the ports of Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki, Naantali, Turku. They received an Invitate to present PENTA & PATCH at both projects' workshops on the above topic

It is important to involve Programme contact points and the JTS in project events/activities to concretely show the results of the project
An EU co-funded project has a short lifetime, therefore efforts must be concentrated on trying to build on the results and develop a strong partnership willing to continue to cooperate in follow-up initiatives, within or outside Interreg
In addition it is fundamental to plan tendering processes well in order to start activities soon and pay invoices according to the implementation schedule in order to avoid ERDF decommitment

The eLearning Portal (www.port-tv.eu) will be kept alive by the Lead Partner with the aim of using it in follow-up projects.

- All investments will continue to be used and the importance of the project in implementing them will keep on being advertised via the permanent plaques.

- The links established with specialised press will be maintained to ensure that PATCH small & medium sized ports can retain the visibility.

- Partner 6 & Partner 7 Master Plans have been stored in their websites for public consultation.

In a very short time PATCH has been able to carry out many excellent activites. At a networking level, the 6 Partnership Meetings and 12 events organised within the framework of the project allowed the PP 'jel' and work together in a very positive and harmonic atmosphere. As for the links with actors outside the projects, the participation in external conferences/fairs, the newsletters & PR and the invitation to join PATCH events/webinars/activities (e.g. the consultation for the port Master Plans, the B2B, etc.) ensured the establishment of close links with the industry, policy makers, the media and the general public.

All Interreg Programmes are coming to a close. It is therefore unlikely that the Partners can develop a follow-up project and apply for additional ERDF funding under this programming period. However, the Partners intend to continue to collaborate and lay the basis for further cooperation in the 2014-20 period.

During Partnership Meeting 6, in relation to the future of cross border collaboration the partners expressed interest to be informed of opportunities to contribute, influence and shape the future priorities as stakeholders once the 2014-20 programming arrangements for new programmes was clearer.