Cargo Express primary goal is to develop the design of a future maritime transport network - with calls in several key ports within the Kattegat-Skagerak area to facilitate a shift of significant amounts of cargo volumes from land to sea​.

The project aims at identifying what is needed for the proposed design to be realised, taking into account significant factors such as:​

Technology, products and processes

Regulatory frameworks​

Transport economics and business models​

Purchase criteria​

Infrastructure development and investments

Understand transport quality needs: Identify the criteria major transport buyers prioritize—cost, emissions, lead time, and delivery precision—to shape the next generation of maritime systems.

Develop new concepts: Based on scenario analysis and data-driven insights, we design effective and scalable solutions for short-sea shipping routes, particularly between Sweden’s west coast and the Oslo Fjord area.

Promote collaboration: Foster partnerships between Swedish automotive and Norwegian maritime clusters, integrating national and regional expertise to tackle cross-border transport challenges.

Scale and sustain: Develop a roadmap for implementing autonomous, fossil-free maritime systems by 2032.

Within the Norwegian-Swedish collaboration Cargo Express, we are exploring whether - and how - a new form of short-sea shipping can be developed into a green, smart, more automated, and AI-driven transport system capable of competing with today’s land-based solutions. Our starting point is the transport buyer’s requirements for punctuality, frequency, service quality, and climate performance.

By analyzing how a maritime solution can be designed based on these requirements, we aim to understand both the possibilities and the limitations of a future intermodal system where the sea leg plays a more significant role than it does today.

As part of the project's initial phase, we have analyzed the cost distribution of a maritime setup compared to equivalent truck transport between the Swedish West Coast and the Oslo area. In our calculations, sea transport accounts for approximately 40–45% of total costs, while pre-carriage and distribution constitute roughly 40–50%, with port and infrastructure fees making up the remainder.

More expensive today – but conditions may change

Naturally, different vessel sizes, distances, and operational setups can yield completely different outcomes. That said, the results of our calculation are not unexpected. Historically, shipping has struggled to compete with road freight on shorter routes; however, we currently see that short-sea shipping is facing a window of opportunity. Rapid development is currently underway within:

·       New vessel designs

·       Electrification and energy-efficient propulsion systems

·       Automated port and terminal handling

·       Digitalization and AI support in planning and operations

Together with upcoming regulatory changes and increased sustainability requirements, these developments can contribute to short-sea shipping becoming a competitive and high-performing alternative in the long term.

Where are we heading?

In the next stage, we will continue to combine technology scouting, economic analysis, and dialogue with transport buyers and other stakeholders. The goal is to create a future vision of how an efficient and robust short-sea shipping system could be designed—and what political, technical, and market-related changes are required to achieve it.

What do you think?

We are eager to hear more perspectives. How do you view the role of shipping in the future European transport system? And what prerequisites are needed for short-sea shipping to seriously challenge road freight? Please get in touch; this discussion is vital, and we are building this vision together.