In the context of the European Interreg incentive scheme (Interreg IV‐A), 9 partners – Ostend, Ramsgate, Portsmouth, Newhaven, East Sussex County Council, South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Calais, Zeebrugge and Zeeland Seaports – set up a joint research and study programme: Ports Adapting To Change (PATCH).

This programme must contribute to three objectives: 

• to improve the management of the port authorities taking part;
  
• to increase the diversification of economic activity in the ports and international co-operation in that field;
  
• to improve the quality of the logistics (transport) operations of the ports, by both water and land.

Within the PATCH programme, Zeeland Seaports will further develop the Multi Utility Provider, making the knowledge involved in developing an MUP available to other PATCH partners.