Transito Launches Total Freight Amid Rhine Low-Water Shipping Disruptions
Dutch chartering company Transito has launched Total Freight, a new freight transport service that combines sea freight and inland shipping under one contract as low-water conditions and other disruptions continue to complicate cargo transport between European seaports and the hinterland.
The new maritime logistics service covers the sea voyage, port handling, transhipment and onward transport by inland vessel. Shippers receive one price per tonne, one contract and one invoice for the entire movement. Within an agreed range, Transito also takes the waiting time between the seagoing vessel and the inland vessel on its own account.
The service is designed to address a common challenge for shippers moving dry cargo from Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Poland and northern Spain into the German and Dutch hinterland. These shipments can involve four separate contracts. When low water, port congestion, vessel delays or missing documentation disrupt the connection between the sea and inland shipping legs, the resulting waiting time can fall on the cargo owner.
“A seagoing vessel waits for an inland vessel, an inland vessel waits at the quay, and the terminal waits for paperwork. Those days end up with the cargo owner,” said Bas Weinberg, Management and Business Development at Transito. “We arrange both vessels ourselves, so if one runs late, we move the other with it.”
Sea Freight and Inland Shipping Under One Contract
Total Freight is aimed at industrial buyers and mid-sized traders without an in-house freight department, particularly companies shipping agribulk, building materials, fertilisers, minerals, recycling cargo and project cargo.
Transito handles the freight transport movement from the overseas load port to the quay in the European hinterland, bringing the sea freight and inland shipping legs together under one arrangement.
“The difficult part is often not finding a vessel. It is making sure the seagoing vessel, terminal and inland vessel connect,” Weinberg said. “If something changes at sea, in port or on the river, we can manage that connection rather than leaving the cargo owner to coordinate between different parties.”
Managing Shipping Delays and Low-Water Challenges
Low water can affect vessel loading and shipping schedules, while congestion or delays at sea can also disrupt connections in port. By arranging both shipping legs, Transito can adjust schedules when circumstances change.
For companies involved in the shipping industry, the service is intended to simplify the coordination of sea freight, port operations and inland cargo transport. Total Freight is available in both directions, including cargo moving from the European hinterland to overseas destinations.
