Why Hull? A Host City at the Heart of UK Trade

With deep-water access to the North Sea and strong connections to European and global markets, it handles a significant share of the nation’s cargo and plays a vital role in keeping supply chains moving. Its scale and strategic position make it a key hub for both short sea shipping and international trade routes.

Beyond its size, the Humber is a region defined by momentum and transformation. It has developed into a major centre for logistics and advanced manufacturing, supporting industries that rely on efficient, well-connected operations. At the same time, it is at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition, with rapidly growing offshore wind and decarbonisation sectors positioning the region as a leader in maritime innovation.

What makes the Humber particularly relevant for Coastlink is how these strengths come together in practice. Combined with excellent road, rail, and inland waterway links, the region offers seamless multimodal connectivity, a core theme running throughout the conference programme. It provides a real-world example of how integrated transport networks can support more efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.

Who will you hear from?

• Paul Hatley, Lead Commercial Manager, ABP will join the session on sustainable and resilient distribution for supply chair requirements.
• Iain Barnett, Commercial Manager - Lead Unitised & Project Cardo Development, ABP will join a panel on growth & transformation in RoRo (and LoLo) shipping, infrastructure and Service Models.

Hosting Coastlink 2026 in the Humber offers more than just a location, it provides context. Delegates aren’t only discussing the future of short sea shipping and logistics; they are experiencing it first-hand in one of the UK’s most important and forward-looking trade hubs.

To see our line up of speakers, view the full 2026 Coastlink programmehere.

Book here or contact the events team at info@coastlink.co.uk or +44 1329 825335