Short sea shipping: Moving goods efficiently on seas and rivers

Looking for a fast and economical short sea shipping solution in Europe? Our short sea services connect industrial regions and markets. Regular liner services, a dense network of locations and many years of experience make us a competent partner for short sea transportation.

Cargo ships navigating calm blue waters under a clear sky

Efficient short sea shipping for European markets

Our short sea shipping is your link to European markets. With regular routes between major ports, we offer a cost-effective and sustainable transportation solution. Benefit from our years of experience in short sea shipping and use our extensive network of locations to your advantage. Our services include door-to-door deliveries and regular transports to the UK and Ireland. By using our own terminals in the ports, we always have the right equipment available to unload your individual cargo. Our experts at the Rhenus Group are at your side in every situation. In addition, our reliable hinterland connections ensure the smooth onward transportation of your goods inland so that your goods reach their destinations efficiently and on time, even beyond the coast.

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Benefits

Depending on your requirements regarding the type of goods, size, weight and handling method, even large cargo volumes reach their destination quickly via short sea or combined transportation.

Shift your goods to our short sea vessels, relieve the traffic on European roads and reduce your carbon footprint.

Profit from a wide range of short sea routes, many available ports and the terminals of the Rhenus Group with prioritized and individual handling and storage.

On-time delivery thanks to optimized processes and reliable schedules in short sea transportation.

Choose Rhenus for your short sea transport

  • Fixed schedules and optimized supply chains
  • Smooth processes thanks to our expertise in handling steel, aluminum, paper, grain, gypsum, sand, gravel and wood
  • One-stop shop: Full charter, breakbulk, short-term or long-term project, we will find the right short sea transportation solution for your shipment
  • Specialist in Saimaa trade (Finland) and sea-river transport to Great Britain and Ireland
  • Short sea: Our own vessels and chartered tonnage with a carrying capacity of approximately 1,500 to 8,000 tons to ensure the quality of transportation and delivery of your goods
  • Sustainable logistics, with Rhenus aiming to be 100% climate neutral by 2030
  • A dedicated contact person handling your entire short sea needs
  • Regular departures to England and connections to many European seaports and inland ports
  • Fixed schedules, easy booking and streamlined supply chains
  • Door-to-door delivery reduces handling and damage, and speeds up delivery of goods
  • Assistance with customs clearance and port documentation
  • Modern management system with DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 certificate
Friendly call center agent who is talking to a customer

Want to move your goods efficiently and sustainably between port cities and coastal regions?

Our short sea experts will be happy to explain our comprehensive services and provide you with a customized offer.

Frequently asked questions

Short sea shipping includes all maritime transport services that do not cross an ocean. It is part of the multimodal supply chain, combining road, rail and inland waterways. Due to Europe’s network of rivers, short sea transport has been essential to European trade for centuries.

Short sea vessels can transport steel, aluminum, paper, wood, grain, sand, gravel, liquids, bulk, breakbulk, oversized project cargo and much more.

While short sea shipping is not necessarily faster than trucks or trains, it enables far more efficiency in terms of logistics and supply chain management. Moving large volumes of goods in one single voyage reduces the complexity, organization and cost involved in coordinating fleets of trucks, while regular services enable businesses to plan their logistics more precisely.

The Rhenus Group operates short sea shipping across the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean Sea, and also has connections to inland waterway terminals in Europe.

Short sea shipping will remain integral in Europe for many years to come, with an increasing focus on sustainability. The development of more efficient vessel designs and the use of alternative fuels, such as methanol and liquefied natural gas, will help to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Automation and digitalization will make short sea shipping more efficient and make it more accessible to businesses of all sizes.