Coastlink Conference 2026 Comes to an End

Coastlink's annual conference has come to an end. This year the global port community came together, in Hull, to discuss the latest trends and topics in the short sea shipping sector. Topics included, navigating trade policy, growth in RORO shipping, sustainable supply chains and digitalisation.

Conference chairman, Nick Lambert, NLA International - Blue Economy Solutions, welcomed delegates to the two-day conference, "As highlighted in the programme, Coastlink remains dedicated to the promotion of short sea shipping and intermodal transport networks. This year’s event provides a platform for collaboration, knowledge‑sharing, and strategic dialogue as the sector prepares for the decade ahead. "We’re looking forward to hearing from leading experts across the global port industry as they explore the latest trends shaping the short sea shipping sector, including market volatility, RORO shipping, resilient supply chains, digitalisation, and more."

“We need to collaborate because we share the same clients, vessels and logistics. By linking together as businesses we can bring better value to our customers and all reap the rewards,” Said Andima Ormaetxe Bengoa, director - operations, commercial, logistics and strategy, Port of Bilbao, which returned this year to Coastlink as the gold sponsor of the event.

The theme was picked up by Annette van Ketel, commercial manager, Rotterdam Shortsea Terminals, who said that turning uncertainty into opportunity is the way forward. “As a sector short sea needs to find solutions to challenges affecting the whole supply chain because we can’t resolve them on our own.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen so many headlines related to shipping, if people don’t understand how integral shipping is to our global logistics system then perhaps they never will.” Nick Lambert, Coastlink chairman and co-founder and director, NLA International Ltd

Lambert praised the short sea industry for riding through the continued geo-political challenges, which continue to come thick and fast. “Short sea has ridden through it all pretty well, without shipping, global economies would have gone to bits,” he said.

The aim of Coastlink this year, he said, would be to take the longer-term focus while continuing to manage the repeated trade shocks more strategically.

Paul Litten, head of commercial, ABP Humber, spoke about how Coastlink is helping to address these challenges as practical considerations. “It is fitting this year the event is being held on the Humber for which short sea shipping is not an abstract proposition, but a commercial reality every day,” he said.

Annette van Ketel of Rotterdam Shortsea Terminals, Stephen Carr of Peel Ports Group, and Sabine Kilper of Toepfer Transport GmbH discussed, what are the risk mitigation strategies, adaptive business models, and policy recommendations for managing uncertainty while maintaining service reliability.

Industry leaders André Mast of A2B-online, Graham Cross FCILT Clarksons Port Services, Iain Barnett of Associated British Ports, Andima Ormaetxe Bengoa of BilbaoPort and Dr Thomas Beard spoke to delegates about major RoRo terminal investment projects, innovative service delivery models, and infrastructure developments designed to meet evolving shipper demands and operational requirements.

Experts explored the evolving role of shipping routes as 'motorways of the sea,' the impact of changing funding structures on route viability, and strategies for building resilient, environmentally responsible distribution networks.

The increasing complexity of the regulatory landscape and the practical steps needed to make short sea shipping a more mainstream, reliable component of the logistics chain were also brought into focus.

As the evening of day 2 drew to a close, Associated British Ports, hosts of this year’s event, officially passed on the baton for Coastlink 2027. Andrew Dawes, regional director, Humber Region, ABP, addressed delegates.

“This a great event and we’re so pleased to see you all here this year on the banks of the Humber, where we have a fantastic maritime history.”

“Here in Hull we’ve experienced the transition from coal right the way through to renewable energy. For us, Coastlink is about tackling problems by looking at solutions and collaboration and that’s what we’ve been doing here today.”

He announced that Coastlink 2027 will take place in Rotterdam from 14 to 15 April, hosted jointly by the Port of Rotterdam and Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals.