GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 9, 2026
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic in northern Europe, connected to the North Sea through the Danish straits, the Kattegat and the Skagerrak.
Quick Answer
Last updated:
Source: IMO, Emission Control Areas under MARPOL Annex VI (https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Emission-Control-Areas-(ECAs)-designated-under-MARPOL-Annex-VI.aspx); HELCOM
Category
Logistics Concept
Reading time
1 min
Words
152
Mentioned in
–
Definition & Explanation
The Baltic Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic in northern Europe, connected to the North Sea through the Danish straits, the Kattegat and the Skagerrak. Its riparian states are Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden. Three features shape logistics in the region. Shallow sills and narrow approaches cap vessel size, so much of the container traffic reaches the Baltic as feeder cargo via the North Sea hubs; only a few terminals can handle large vessels directly. In winter, ice in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland can disrupt traffic and require ice-class tonnage and icebreaker assistance. And the entire Baltic has been a SOx Emission Control Area (SECA) since 2006 and additionally a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA) since 2021 under MARPOL Annex VI, imposing stricter fuel and engine requirements. Beyond container and feeder services, ro-ro, ferry and bulk traffic dominate the region.
Next steps
Matching tools and partners
Related Terms
You might also be interested in these terms
Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox
Free · No password · Never a paywall. Weekly top news and facts from logistics.
Community Questions & Answers
Share your knowledge, ask follow-up questions, or add practical insights to this page. Every contribution is moderated before publication.
No community answers yet. Be the first.