The Port of Copenhagen is a major port for transport of cargo and for ferries to neighbouring countries. The port is also known as a major destination for cruise ships. To strengthen the port’s position as the gateway to the Baltic Sea, the Port of Copenhagen merged in 2001 with the Port of Malmö in Sweden to become Copenhagen Malmö Port (www.cmport.com). The merger ensures an even larger capacity and further integration of the region’s infrastructural capacity.

The new port serves around 8.800 vessels on a yearly basis and is one of the largest in Northern Europe. The port is the centre of freight moving from the Baltic countries and the Continent.

Figure 3.1: Baltic Sea area

On a yearly basis the port handles 15 million tons of cargo (2005). Some of the facilities include:

• Scheduled routes to 11 Nordic and seven Baltic sea harbours, many with daily services
• Several weekly departures to the rest of Europe
• Short turnaround times and some of the lowest storage times in Europe
• Handling of ships immediately upon arrival, 24 hours a day
• Free ports and bonded warehouses - commodities can be stored as long as necessary without paying VAT until shipped to the final destination
• Facilities for some of the largest container ships in the world.

Not only Danish and Swedish cargo but also other European consignments move in transit via Copenhagen Malmö Port, either directly from truck, rail or ship or after a short stop in the duty-free Freeport area.

A number of international firms have chosen to locate main distribution centres in Copenhagen Malmö Port: Roland has placed its Scandinavian distribution centre, Sony its Scandinavian and Baltic distribution centre, and Toyota its north European car import centre in the port. In addition, Unicef and Peter Justesen Company have placed their world distribution centres in Copenhagen Malmö Port.