This year, at the Propeller Forum in Madrid, Diego Ruigómez, General Manager Spain at Samskip, presented a clear and confident vision for the present and future of Short Sea Shipping in Europe broadly, and in Spain specifically.
“It was a real pleasure to reconnect with colleagues from across the sector,” Diego shared. “Some of us remember when sustainability was just starting to appear in maritime discussions. Today, it’s no longer a side topic. It’s central to every serious logistics strategy.”
In a market shaped by decarbonization targets, regulatory shifts, and geopolitical volatility, one message stood out: rail and maritime integration are not optional for Spain. They are essential.
With 1.6 billion tonnes of intra-European short-sea cargo moving annually, Short Sea Shipping continues to demonstrate resilience and stability. But for Spain, given its size, geography, and long inland distances, the competitive advantage lies firmly in multimodality.
“Spain is particularly dependent on efficient intermodal solutions,” Diego explained. “Our geographical position and logistics configuration make strong rail-to-port connections critical, especially through the ports of northern Spain for links with the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Northern Europe.”
He pointed in particular to the transformation underway in Santander, highlighting the growth of the Port of Santander over the past two years. Improved rail access and the development of a new container terminal focused on short-sea services are already strengthening Spain’s competitive position. (....)