NEWS\\\


P&O to run from Calais to Tilbury


P&O Ferries is to launch a new freight


service in September


between Calais and Tilbury – the first regular route from the French port to a destination other than


Dover for many years. It has chartered the Caroline


Russ which will operate two sailings every weekday and one on Saturday and Sunday.


Geest Line goes back to Portsmouth


Caribbean operator Geest Line is returning to Portsmouth two years after relocating to Dover. It moved its UK call to the Kent port due to scheduling difficulties at Portsmouth, which have now been resolved. Geest Line’s headquarters and its 32 staff remained in Hampshire. Geest operates weekly


westbound sailings from the south of England and the Netherlands. Managing director, Captain


Peter Dixon, said: “We left Portsmouth because of scheduling difficulties when we replaced our fleet with five larger and newer ships, increasing our capacity by 40%. The port at Dover was able


to accommodate us


and enabled our business to continue and grow. But changes at Portsmouth mean it can now handle our larger and modified service and it makes sense to


return.” Geest handles reefer and non-


reefer container and breakbulk cargo, with most traffic from the Caribbean consisting of fruit, mainly bananas, for the UK and European markets. Portsmouth is embarking on


a diversification programme that will see it add new traffics to its traditional staples of fruit and ferries, says port director Mike Sellers. In an interview with FBJ, he outlined plans to refigure the port and attract a range of new business, while maintaining its presence in its two existing major sectors. The


city council, which


owns both the port and the Portico stevedoring business (rebranded from MMD earlier this year) has reapproved the port’s existing 20-year plan and has made a £15 million capital loan to Portico to help the latter realise its full potential and return to full profitability.


The eight-hour sailing will have capacity for 100 freight units, and will be targeted on time-sensitive supermarket goods including fresh fruit and vegetables. A selling-point of the service


is that, by prioritising the fast discharge of the ship, the freight can be on the M25 from 5.30am, allowing journeys to start before the rush hour. Tilbury is within 25 miles of


central London while Calais also offers links from southern France and Italy on the French Railways


Issue 6 2019 - Freight Business Journal


VIIA trailer carrying service. Janette Bell, Chief Executive


of P&O Ferries, said: “The route saves up to 75 road miles each day compared with the traditional Calais-Dover


crossing, meaning


that our customers save on fuel and land on the doorstep of London.” Xavier Bertrand, Président du


Conseil Régional des Hauts-de- France, added: “The opening of a regular shipping line between Tilbury and Calais is an event to celebrate for many reasons. On the


one hand, it meets the expectations of the European market and will help develop trade with Greater London, the Midlands and Greater Manchester.” He continued: “On the other


hand, it will improve the fluidity on the Channel, especially in the event of a No Deal Brexit. The port of Calais and P&O Ferries show their willingness to invest in the future, to offer a wider range of services to their customers in the logistics sector and to enhance the attractiveness of the French


3


coastline.” Launch of the new service


comes ahead of the opening of the new river berth at the Port of Tilbury scheduled in April next year, which would allow P&O Ferries to treble volumes on its existing Zeebrugge-Tilbury services to 600,000 loads of freight a year. An onward rail connection to Daventry is also expected to be operational in 2020, mirroring the rail connections linking the Port of Calais with Le Boulou, Turin and Orbassano on the Continent.


DSV and Panalpina have officially joined forces


The combination of two companies creates one of the world’s strongest transport and logistics networks. Going forward, more than 60,000 employees will be at work in 90 countries to support you with air freight, sea freight, road transport, project transport and warehousing solutions.


To learn more Visit www.uk.dsv.com Email contact@uk.dsv.com Call +44 1708 892108


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