Shortsea transhipment in The Netherlands of containers (all types) amounted to 26,8 million tons in 2003, a growth of 9% compared to 2002. This according to the publication of the figures of 2003. The transhipment of containers (in tons) constitutes 11% from the total shortsea transhipment in 2003. In 2002 the percentage was only 10,2%. From the modal shift notion, the container is the loading unit that can be an alternative to the road trailer. Hence the attention for this form of shortsea transport, in order to increase the share in European transports, is justified.

The United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Norway are countries in the top 5 as far as container shipments are concerned between the 5 and the Netherlands. Together these countries represent 72% of the container transhipment in the Netherlands.

Slight growth of total shortsea transhipment
The shortsea transhipment of containers grows much faster than the total shortsea transhipment. In 2003 shortsea transhipment in Dutch ports grew slightly with 0,5 % (+ 1,2 million tons). This is a good achievement given the fact that deepsea transhipment decreased with 0,25%. Shortsea transhipment in Dutch seaports amounts to 56% of the total transhipments in 2003.

Main transhipment countries
The top 5 countries with the largest transhipment in tons have not changed very much in the last few years. Also in 2003 places 1 till 5 are occupied by the UK, Norway, Egypt, Russia and Estonia. This is the same top 5 as in 2002 with one difference that Russia and Egypt have changed places. Though the UK is still number one, the share in the total Dutch transhipment has declined slightly from 30% in 2002 to 28% in 2003. The diversity of handled products in the trade with the UK is great. This does not count for the other 4 countries. For these countries applies that the transhipment of oil products is 70 ? 98 % of the total transhipment between those countries and the Netherlands.

Largest growth in tons
The countries with the largest growth in tons are Egypt, Russia, Denmark, Morocco and Ireland. For the first four applies that the high ranking is largely the result of the transhipment of oil products. Ireland is an exception as 78% of the growth has been caused by containers en flats.

Shortsea shipping means the movement of cargo by sea between ports situated in geographical Europe or between those ports and ports situated in non-European countries having a coastline on the enclosed seas bordering Europe. Therefore shortsea shipping also includes sea transport between member states of the EU and Norway, and Iceland, as well as other countries bordering at the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: short sea

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