20/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Total weight of goods handled down by 12% in 2009. In a report published on Monday 20 December, Eurostat indicated that after growing steadily between 2002 and 2007, the total weight of goods handled in maritime ports in the EU27 remained nearly stable at 3.9 billion tonnes in 2008. It then fell by 12% to 3.4bn tonnes in 2009 as a result of the economic crisis. As for the sea transport of passengers, the number of passengers embarking or disembarking in maritime ports in the EU27 has remained relatively stable at around 410 million since 2003. In 2009 it fell by 2% to 403m. Rotterdam and Antwerp are the largest ports for cargo. (Com-O.L./transl.fl)