Shippers are working diligently towards greening their own value chains, but the question is, what do they need from ports to grow further.
The second panel session and the last session of Coastlink 2025 focused on developing sustainable multimodal logistics networks.
During the session, Stefan Krattiger, business development leader global ports, IKEA Supply AG, Alexander Prahl, head of sales and contracting trade management at Tailwind Shipping Lines and Blasco Majorana, line manager, Finnlines, talked delegates through their own successful business models and took questions from the audience.
The shippers’ viewpoint
For Ikea, the emphasis for its own supply chain is on ports and the sustainability factor in its supply chain. Ikea makes 2 million shipments per year both by land and ocean.
“With a global footprint on supply and demand we have a global operation with ports in 61 markets,” said Stefan Krattiger.
“Ports are hubs, we are convinced role that ports can play to enable decarbonisation solutions for both our ocean shipping and land transportation needs.”
He said he was attending Coastlink in order to gleen input and to learn from ports in order to help Ikea achieve increased operational excellence, sustainability and efficiency.
For Finnlines, part of the Grimaldi Group, short sea is core to its business being a shipping operator of ro-ro and passenger services in the Baltic and Celtic seas.
“Creating awareness is key to solving the challenges that we are facing in the sector now and going forward,” said Blasco Majorana.
“You cannot have the European supply chain without shortsea, you cannot move everything by road. Shortsea has the vital infrastructure we need to do business.”
Working together
In a question from the floor, the panelists were asked what do shipping operators want from port and terminal operators in order to help them build greener shortsea networks?
For Tailwind Shipping – the answer is about provision.
“Firstly, have a short sea terminal, if the infrastructure isn’t there, shippers can’t use it, for example there are no shortsea terminals in Germany but the structure should be there and there should be a choice,” said Alexander Prahl.
Finnlines pointed towards more communication and collaboration.
“The level of cooperation between shippers and ports is key when it comes to integrated intermodal connections – that is the integration of sea, rail and road. All modes of transport need to work in the same way. The level of cooperation needs to be enhanced,” said Mr Majorana.
Ikea wants to work more closely with ports to enhance the sustainability of its transhipment by ocean.
“The port’s role in decarbonisation cannot be underestimated. They are a meeting point for stakeholders so shippers want to be able to better use that playground for matchmaking and meeting market requirements,” said Mr Krattiger.
Summing up, Mr Prahl said the outlook of shortsea shipping is bright with the EU working to push it forward as a main mode of sea transport.
The consensus from the panel was that shortsea will be way up there in front for last mile logistics going forward.
