BSC – Project Story: Building Greener Transport Chains Through Cooperation

Why Cooperation Matters

The Baltic Sea Region is crisscrossed by busy trade routes. Trucks and ships move huge volumes of goods every day, but often at a high environmental cost. Long-distance freight is especially challenging: it involves many actors, from port authorities and ferry operators to rail companies and logistics providers. When they work in isolation, the result is inefficiency and higher emissions. The report notes clearly that “Cooperation between port authorities and operators is not just desirable but essential for achieving greener transport chains.”

The Rostock–Trelleborg corridor is a perfect example. This route is one of the main arteries connecting Central Europe with Scandinavia. Traditionally, much of the cargo has moved by truck. That means more congestion, more noise, and more CO₂. But shifting freight from road to rail, combined with efficient ferry transport, can cut emissions significantly. The problem? It only works if ports and operators align their efforts.

“Climate change, and reducing climate-affecting emissions is the single most important topic for the maritime industry as well as for Stena Line. We believe that combining the two most efficient modes of transport – ship and rail – can play a vital role to achieve climate goals on transport.” says Maria Tornvall, the Group Head of Sustainability at Stena Line.

The Railferry Pilot in Action

The Blue Supply Chains project put this idea into practice. Port authorities in Rostock and Trelleborg, together with private ferry operators, teamed up to see how more cargo could move seamlessly between ship and rail. This was not just about technical adjustments like timetables or terminal layouts. It was about building trust, sharing information, and making joint decisions.

By coordinating schedules, securing rail connections, and ensuring terminal capacity, the partners created conditions for more freight to roll on and roll off the ferries directly onto rail wagons. This avoided hundreds of trucks on the road, reducing emissions and easing pressure on road infrastructure. The pilot showed that even without massive new investments, cooperation itself can unlock greener flows of goods.

Other pilots in the project — such as electrifying cranes in Gdynia or installing on-shore power in Skagen — added further lessons about technology and infrastructure. But the Rostock–Trelleborg railferry stood out because it addressed a whole corridor, not just a single piece of equipment. It demonstrated how cooperation across borders and sectors can make a real difference for international trade routes.

From Pilot to Blueprint

The outcomes of the railferry pilot go well beyond Rostock and Trelleborg. They provide a blueprint for other ports and corridors in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. The lessons learned have been captured in a cooperation toolbox: a set of models, agreements, and practices that other port–operator partnerships can adapt to their needs.

The benefits are clear: lower fuel consumption, fewer emissions, smoother operations. But just as important is the cultural shift. For years, ports and operators were neighbours rather than partners. The railferry case proved that when they sit at the same table and make decisions together, greener solutions become not only possible but practical.

The message is simple: the green transition is not only about new machines or fuels. It’s about cooperation. And if cooperation can make the Rostock–Trelleborg railferry greener, it can transform many other transport chains across Europe.

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