This book is not about the technology of a selfloading and unloading ship system, but about the constraints and conditions under which shortsea shipping can compete against other modes, on the level of transit time, frequency of departure, quality of service and of course, in price. The environmental benefits will be treated "pro-memorie" in spite of their magnitude. The authors wish to communicate the transport concept of a competitive shortsea shipping system to their peers around Europe. We wish to inform the shipowners, terminal operators, shippers, transport companies, governments, consultants, universities, politicians on the essence of such a system. Therefore we have chosen the route of dissimination of the information through the publication of a book, accompanied by a video presentation. A "roadshow" through countries in north-west Europe will accompany this diffusion-drive.