Editing Transport in Europe (section)

== Sea and river transport ==
[[File:Schiffsstau auf dem Rhein bei Köln 2013-08-20-05.JPG|thumb|right|Ships on the [[Rhine]] at [[Cologne]].]]
The [[Port of Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]] is the largest port in Europe and one of the busiest ports in the world, handling some 440 million metric tons of cargo in 2013. When the associated [[Europoort]] industrial area is included, Rotterdam is by certain measurements the world's busiest port. Two thirds of all inland water freight shipping within the [[European Union|EU]], and 40% of containers, pass through the Netherlands.<ref name="NFIA Seaports">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfia.com/seaports.html |title=Seaports - Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |date=c. 2010 |website=www.nfia.com |publisher=Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |access-date=2014-07-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140717195912/http://www.nfia.com/seaports.html |archive-date=2014-07-17}}</ref> Other large ports are the [[Port of Hamburg]] in [[Germany]] and the [[Port of Antwerp]] in [[Belgium]]. They are all a part of the so-called "Northern Range".

The [[English Channel]] is one of the world's busiest seaways carrying over 400 ships per day<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/emergencyresponse/mcga-searchandrescue/mcga-hmcgsar-sarsystem/channel_navigation_information_service__cnis_/the_dover_strait.htm| title=The Dover Strait| publisher=[[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]]| year=2007| access-date=8 October 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831173118/http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/emergencyresponse/mcga-searchandrescue/mcga-hmcgsar-sarsystem/channel_navigation_information_service__cnis_/the_dover_strait.htm| df=dmy-all| archive-date=31 August 2010}}</ref> between Europe's [[North Sea]] and [[Baltic Sea]] ports and the rest of the world.

As well as its role in freight movement, sea transport is an important part of Europe's energy supply. Europe is one of the world's major [[oil tanker]] discharge destinations. Energy is also supplied to Europe by sea in the form of [[LNG]]. The [[South Hook LNG terminal]] at [[Milford Haven]], Wales is Europe's largest LNG terminal.<ref name=bbc200309>{{cite news| work= [[BBC News]]| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7952415.stm| title= Port awaits liquid gas delivery| date=20 March 2009| access-date=20 March 2009}}</ref>

The [[Rhine]] is an important route for cargo ships, transporting goods from [[Rotterdam]] (Netherlands) upstream as far as [[Basel]] ([[Merchant Marine of Switzerland]]).