Context: the ports of Catania and Valletta are an important maritime traffic hub both for commercial and tourist reasons, also for the North African countries. The new commercial unions with Libia, Marocco, Tunisia and Egypt (even for security and immigration levels) give the occasion for both ports, to become a Euro-mediterranean strategic hub of maritime traffic for those countries.It is therefore fundamental that both ports not only adapt better equipment of communication but also create agreements for cooperation, and assets to be able to compete logistically and jointly with the most important ports both at European and non-European levels. Aims:The main aims adressed by the project are:. To improve the maritime transport on the existing courses adapting the structures of the port of Catania and new vessels for faster transport and the availability of the structure for ticket offices for the boats coming from Malta.. To study the possibility of market openings of the new maritime connection Catania-Valletta-Gozo;. To strengthen the cooperation between the port of Catania and that of Valletta finalizing and creating assets in order to be able to compete with other international ports. To inform and promote new cooperation agreements between Catania and Malta to raise awareness to new market opportunities in the Mediterranean area Expected Results: • Infrastrutturazione leggera di accoglienza a Catania e loro promozione;• Redazione di uno Studio di fattibilità ed Analisi di mercato per la nuova tratta Catania-Valletta-Gozo;• Protocollo d’intesa sulla ottimizzazione delle tratte marittime esistenti Catania-Malta;• Attività d’informazione pubblica sulle nuove opportunità di collegamento e sugli accordi tra Catania e Valletta attraverso la realizzazione di convegni di studio e/o informativi e partecipazione congiunta ad importanti eventi nel settore marittimo e portuale.