Advantages center on geographic reach and industry specialization: shorter transit to northern Europe and direct port/air links for time-sensitive cargo; local expertise in seafood and offshore logistics; options for bonded storage and customs brokerage. Trade-offs include higher trunk transport to UK mainland and the need to manage seasonal ferry schedules.

Seasonal sailings and limited air capacity require higher safety stock for some SKU groups and tighter cut-off planning for perishables. Use scenario-based replenishment, buffer stock policies for long-lead SKUs, and supplier collaboration to align production and shipment calendars with ferry and flight schedules.

Prioritise temperature-controlled storage (if handling seafood or perishables), secure racked capacity for inventory density, cross-dock and consolidation lanes to reduce dwell time, returns processing capabilities, and integrated WMS with carrier APIs for visibility and SLA management.

Efficient customs processing (bonded storage, correct HS codes) and consolidation reduce per-unit duty and transport charges. Carrier choice affects transit reliability and frequency; consolidating shipments into scheduled ferries or short-haul air legs can lower cost but may require longer lead times—model landed cost scenarios to find the optimal balance.