Maritime spatial planning focuses on maritime projects such as a marina, a cargo terminal, a port or a RoRo terminal whilst taking into account the spatial surroundings with its needs, demands and consequences into the planning process to ensure a comprehensive spatial development.

Maritime spatial planning concentrates on both the waterside with its legal, functional, logistical and technical framework of port activities and on the landside with its significance for urban and rural interests and land use, potential new mixed land use development as well as the design of supporting industrial areas.