One of the best-known shipping lines bringing timber into the UK, Scotline, acknowledges that it’s operating in a challenging market. But it says its knowledge of the timber sector and long-term dedication to it positions it well to compete and grow – and it continues to invest to develop capacity and service and drive cost effectiveness.
The shipping business in recent years has been characterised by rising costs and cutprice competition and says Scotline director Peter Millattt, operators have had to innovate to stay ahead.
“Like most industries around the world, our margins continue to be squeezed, and our sector, like the timber industry itself, is reaching to technology to further optimise efficiencies in a highly competitive market,” he said.
“While sawmills computerise and invest, for instance, in digital log scanning to optimise the cut profiles, we have adopted onboard software to monitor vessel consumptions as we continue to strive for efficiency.”
Scotline’s ‘proud point of difference’, it says, is maintaining regular and dependable departures on modern ships, underpinned by its stockholding operations and full onward haulage service throughout the UK.
“In today’s market conditions, a very reliable service level is probably the most important factor in getting the goods to the customer quickly,” said Mr Millattt. “Our experience is that there is continued high demand for regular shipments and reliable stockholding facilities that can get product to destination in a timely manner. As regional stockists work to reduce their onsite inventory, there is a growing market for prompt resupply.”
Scotline’s strategy has continued to pay dividends. It has continued to grow its liner services from Varberg, Riga and Wismar, its home port of Rochester has remained very busy, and it is seeing growing volumes to Inverness, Hull and Ireland.
“On the loading side we are seeing more inbound cargoes from the east coast, middle and north of Sweden making their way to Varberg to benefit from the regularity of the Scotline liner service,” said Mr Millatt. “We are also seeing an increased number of rail services delivering timber to Varberg especially from central Sweden. At the same time, the ongoing industrial action that is affecting many of the larger Swedish ports is forcing previous trailer traffic to revert to conventional break bulk shipments.”
With the increase in log prices in Scandinavia, Scotline has also seen an increase in the volume of log cargoes being shipped from the UK and Ireland.
“These are being used as a mixture of saw logs, pulp logs and for biomass,” said Mr Millatt. “Over the last 12 months our vessels visited over 50 unique ports, with over 600 voyages across the fleet in 2024. We have welcomed new clients and new destinations to our schedule. At the start of January 2025 we took two extra modern, efficient ships on time charter to our liner service, which are sisters of our own vessel Scot Navigator. These fitted in well to our liner service and pick up the extra slack enabling decrease ballasting to meet deadlines. We now have three vessels under time charter in addition to our own fleet of 10 to help cover our expanding itineraries. This allows us to position effectively and stay competitive.”
In recent years Scotline has also invested heavily in adding brand new ships to its owned fleet, plus the shore infrastructure to support them.
“With six new ships launched in the last seven years, our partnership with Royal Bodewes Shipyard in Hoogezand in the Netherlands, remains strong and we look forward to laying the next keel in the nottoo- distant future,” said Mr Millatt. “With sister ships in service that have been designed and built for timber and forest products, we now have vessels optimised for safe, efficient and green deliveries.”
Besides commissioning low emission vessels, Scotline also continues to work with multiple initiatives to further drive environmental performance backed by the government’s Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund (SSAF) and through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC).
EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
“We are proud to work with emerging tech, providing real world opportunity to innovation groups looking for breakthroughs in emissions reductions,” said Mr Millatt. “By allowing them access to our ships and voyage data we are supporting research to accelerate development of solutions for the short sea fleet.”
Scotline has also worked in partnership with Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) Energy Solutions to develop a shore power capability for Scotline Terminal (Transit) Ltd on the Medway.
“Like many provincial ports, the infrastructure to supply sufficient electrical energy to the site is just not there, so we have built a battery system to allow us to connect ships while alongside,” said Mr Millatt. “It is still in trial phase but once fully implemented will represent a saving of around 335 tons of CO2 per year from vessels alongside.”
Looking forward, Scotline sees government policy holding promise for development of construction and hence the timber trade and its business. The question is whether the promise will come to fruition.
“Labour’s housing agenda has laid bold foundations, with economic forecasts, sectorlevel confidence and SME support showing real promise,” said Mr Millatt. “Yet structural hurdles – particularly planning delays, labour gaps, and financing complexity – mean many of the anticipated benefits are still aspirational. For businesses operating in or alongside housebuilding, the outlook for the market is cautiously optimistic, but we need to see those policies fully realised.”
At the same time, Scotline is upbeat that its own strategies will continue to deliver.
“Our combination of load management in Sweden, efficient and reliable ships for transfer, well equipped and staffed terminals, and huge partnerships with nationwide hauliers means we are well placed to meet demand in a highly predictable manner,” said Mr Millatt.
“There is always competition from cheaper solutions, but Scandinavian and Baltic timber is about a high-quality reliable product, and our service is here to extend that mentality into the delivery part of the equation.
“Since the privatisation of the port industry, a lot of UK ports are controlled by large groups who are not really interested in timber as they say it takes up too much space and does not pay enough. This also leaves Scotline with a good opportunity.”
CINDY CRANCHER RETIRES AFTER 40 YEARS AT SCOTLINE
Scotline marketing director Cindy Crancher, who retired in June after 40 years with the business, brought a standout level of dedication, precision, and energy to the company, writes director Peter Millatt
Cindy joined Scotline in 1985 and as it grew, so too did her role and in 2007 she was appointed marketing director. It was a natural fit, with her knowledge of the business, her rapport with customers, and her ability to see both the big picture and the small detail making her an exceptional leader.
In 2011 when we acquired Scotline Terminal Transit her determination, charm, and sheer grit turned an empty terminal into a thriving operation working at full capacity.
Beyond Scotline, Cindy is a respected and admired figure across the timber industry. Her work with the London Softwood Club has been nothing short of transformative. What was once a modest gathering is now a sold-out event every time – a must-attend on the industry calendar – and that is entirely down to Cindy’s vision, her relationships, and her ability to bring people together with genuine warmth. She will remain on the LSC committee and will still be seen at their meetings.
On a personal level, we’ll all miss her sense of humour, her honesty and professionalism. Cindy has been a part of the very DNA of Scotline.
