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P&O Ferries takes up the slack in Scotland

[ May 14, 2018   //   ]

P&O Ferries says it will increase capacity on its Zeebrugge-Teesport route by almost 25% to create an alternative gateway to Scotland following the closure of the DFDS service to Rosyth.

The ferry and logistics company currently carries more than 100,000 freight units a year to Teesport from its continental hub at Zeebrugge on 12 sailings a week provided by the 25,000 ton Bore Song and the 10,000 ton Mistral. However, it is understood that P&O is currently examining the configuration of its current ships on the route and that alternative or additional tonnage is a possibility.

Meanwhile, Teesport operator PD Ports has introduced a new rail service between Teesport and Mossend in central Scotland and the timetable of ferry and rails services will be fully integrated to minimise delay. A second daily service on the route is also to be added, according to PD Ports.

P&O Ferries chief executive, Janette Bell, said: “The most reliable way for exporters to or from Scotland to transport their goods is via Teesport. The 15 hour sailing is more cost efficient than more northerly routes and by integrating our timetable with PD Ports’ new rail service to Scotland we can guarantee customers an unrivalled service to and from northern Britain.”

PD Ports chief executive, Frans Calje, added: “We have a strong and historic partnership with P&O Ferries and we are supporting this expansion by providing additional capacity for their upsized Zeebrugge-Teesport route through even more investment in our rail services to Scotland. With a new, second planned daily service to Scotland imminent, we will shortly see further opportunities for cargo movements to and from Scotland.”

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