Brussels, 09/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Aid to maritime and short distance navigation was the main topic of the maritime transport sector's annual conference in Brussels on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 July, attended by national and sector experts, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Those attending the conference agreed to analyse, by October 2009, a number of additional short-term support measures which should help the sector to emerge strengthened from the current crisis Other incentives were identified, such as: - promoting vessels with high environmental performances; - guaranteeing loans for risk-mitigating measures for the start-up of new services in short sea shipping and motorways of the sea; - encouraging investment in port development and inland connections; - supporting containerisation and unaccompanied transport. The Commission says that Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen will continue discussions with the industry, for example at the high level meeting with representatives of the shipyards sector in Bremerhaven on 11 September. (A.By./transl.rt)