GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Short Sea Shipping

Unlike deep-sea shipping, which crosses entire oceans, Short Sea Shipping covers maritime cargo transport confined to a single sea basin or between neighbouring coastal states.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-modes/maritime/short-sea-shipping_en

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Definition & Explanation

Unlike deep-sea shipping, which crosses entire oceans, Short Sea Shipping covers maritime cargo transport confined to a single sea basin or between neighbouring coastal states. In Europe, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic seaboard form the principal corridors. The mode competes directly with road and rail, with a structural advantage in higher load capacity and lower CO₂ emissions per tonne-kilometre—making it a key element of European freight-shift policy. Operators include feeder carriers, RoRo services, and conventional ferry lines. The term is broader than feeder service: Short Sea Shipping is the overarching category, of which feeder operations are just one variant.

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Short Sea Shipping

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