The designated port authorities may, on their own motion, limit the maximum number of port services providers. However, there are safeguards in place. Such limitations must be made on objective grounds (such as spatial limitations, capacity, etc.) and must be accompanied by a justification explaining why no other alternatives were available that would have been less restrictive for competition. Note that Article 6(1) of the Regulation 2017/352 allows the managing body of the port, or the competent authority to limit the number of providers of port services for a given port service in certain circumstances (e.g., in case of scarcity or reserved use of land or waterside space).  