Short-sea shipping moves cargo between ports on the same sea or neighbouring seas without a deep-sea transit. From Rīga, Ventspils and Liepāja that means the Baltic Sea and, through the Danish straits, the North Sea. For petroleum shippers it offers a lower-cost alternative to long road hauls and a way to reach markets that trucks cannot serve directly.

What moves short-sea

Bulk refined product moves in small and medium product tankers on parcel-size fixtures. Base oils, additives and packaged product move in ISO tanks and trailers on container and ro-ro services. Rīga’s ro-ro links to Scandinavia carry a road tanker or trailer on board, so a single vehicle can complete a Latvia-to-Sweden delivery with one sea leg in the middle.

The Baltic in winter

The northern Baltic ices over in winter. Ports in the Gulf of Riga and further north may require ice-class tonnage or icebreaker assistance between January and March. Southern Baltic and North Sea lanes are open year-round. Plan winter fixtures early and confirm the vessel’s ice class against the port’s requirement.

Sulphur and emissions rules

The Baltic and North Sea are emission control areas, which affects the fuel a vessel burns and, for shippers of marine fuel, the specification of the product. This does not change how your cargo is carried, but it does affect freight rates and it matters if you are supplying bunkers.

Documents

A short-sea parcel travels on a bill of lading or sea waybill with a dangerous goods declaration under the IMDG Code. Intra-EU movements of Union goods need no customs entry, but excise goods still need an e-AD. Non-Union goods need a T1 or an export entry.

World Logistics Services fixes short-sea tonnage and books ISO tanks and trailers on liner services from the Latvian ports, with the documents prepared before sailing.