Archives



Feature, Freight News, Sea


Felixstowe to boost DFDS capacity

[ January 21, 2019   //   ]

The Port of Felixstowe and DFDS said on 21 January that they had agreed to increase ro ro capacity at the UK port by over 40% including a new linkspan, tractor units and 300 additional trailer parking.
The port’s chief executive Clemence Cheng, said the investment was driven by long-term confidence in the ro/ro route between Felixstowe and Rotterdam and that there was increasing interest in ro ro and short sea container connections as shippers seek to minimise risks to their supply chains resulting from Brexit.”
DFDS is one of three ferry companies that have been contracted by the UK government to provide extra capacity on routes to and from the UK after Brexit.
He added: “As well as being the UK’s largest container port, Felixstowe is also a key gateway for ro ro trade with Europe. Demand on DFDS’s service to Rotterdam has been growing steadily for a number of years and we are delighted to have agreed a new contract with them to secure the service at Felixstowe for another 15 years.
“The new contract includes a significant investment by Hutchison Ports replacing one of our existing ro ro bridges with a modern floating linkspan capable of handling the latest generation of ro/ro vessels and creating over 300 additional trailer spaces for unaccompanied ro/ro traffic.”
DFDS chief executive and president Niels Smedegaard added that the investment would allow the Danish company “is also a further step in our striving to provide necessary capacity to continue supporting our customers’ trade and business, even in a possible post-Brexit world.”

Tags: ,