The Port of Sassnitz is situated on the eastern side of the Isle of Ruegen and is thus the easternmost deep-water port in Germany. This geographical position provides the shortest sea connection from Germany to Sweden, Denmark/Bornholm, Finland, Russia and the Baltic states. The port is located directly on the open sea which means an uncomplicated approach for shipping. This makes time-consuming channel navigation unnecessary, and there is no obligation for pilot service. Water depths of 10.50 m make the port accessible to all ship classes which operate in the Baltic Sea. Due to its optimal and spacious track installation the Port of Sassnitz has become a specialist port for combined rail ferry traffic. As the only port location of Western Europe the Port of Sassnitz has track and transshipment facilities for rail cars of the Russian broad gauge and is also well-known as " the westernmost cargo station of the Trans-Siberian railway ".