A Dutch shipping line will open up the Port of Waterford to new international trade routes when it begins a weekly service next month.
The Waterford to Rotterdam route operated by BG Freight Line will act as a deep-sea feeder for Irish importers and exporters.
LISTEN BACK: Terminal Operations Manager Derek Madigan and CEO of the Port of Waterford Frank Ronan talk to Julie Smyth on the Hot Desk about exciting developments at the Port
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The service, which will be run in partnership with global shipping giant Maersk, means that goods travelling from Waterford can continue onto Rotterdam to other ports such as Shanghai, whereas previously goods for destinations beyond Europe would typically have shipped from Dublin.
Part of the Peel Ports Group, BG Freight Line runs a fleet of 23 containerised vessels from its headquarters in the Netherlands. Maersk, meanwhile, is the largest container logistics organisation in the world, moving more than 12 million containers a year.
BG Freight Line chief executive Koert Luitwieler said the addition of Waterford to its network would strengthen the company’s Irish Sea network which encompassed routes from Dublin and Cork at present.
“The call in Waterford will boost the shipping options for local businesses, enabling them to reach Rotterdam within days and connect to the rest of the world.”
Terminal Operations Manager Derek Madigan said the decision to start the service was the culmination of a lot of work on the back of consistent support from exporters, particularly in the agri-foods sector:
"We've now got a feeder deep sea service operating out of Waterford we've never had anything like that before in Waterford, we were strictly a short-sea container service port. It's a new departure it's something we've been asked for by exporters and importers in the region for a number of years, and it's taken long time to bring it to fruition."
Chief Executive of the Port Frank Ronan said it means shipping options for local businesses will be vastly expanded:
“The new service will be especially valuable to customers shipping containers to or from Africa, Asia and the Americas as it will feed into the global hub at Rotterdam and allow seamless movement of goods between Waterford and the rest of the world,” Mr Ronan said.
“Reflecting Ireland’s economic growth, the Port continues to perform well and this additional service will allow us provide new capacity to the many businesses in the southeast who trade goods globally. For the Port, the additional weekly service increases our activity and throughput which is obviously important from a business perspective. We look forward to working with BG Freight Line and Maersk to ensure that this is a sustainable partnership.”
