Ferry transport in the Baltic Sea: developments in the 1990s

The Baltic Sea is one of the worlds higher density areas of maritime transport which plays an important role in the infrastructure necessary for trades and passenger transport in the area. Thus, intensive trades between theses states and with other parts of the world take place resulting from economic power of the surrounding states. Until the political changes at the end of the 1980s, divisions were visible in the development of Baltic ferry transport which corresponded to the differences between the socialist states and the free market systems of Northern Europe. Today's Baltic region is developing into an independent economic center having a highly distinctive transport system as a basis for economic, cultural and tourist exchange in the area. A dense network of ferry and ro-ro connections, especially in a north-south direction, offer safe and reliable connections across the Baltic and guarantees the inclusion of northern European and increasing eastern European economies in the Europe-wide production and distribution systems. Consequently, this paper concentrates upon the changing environment in the Baltic Sea ferry and ro-ro market and is structured on a regional basis, beginning with services in the South-West Baltic.