New Spanish Service, Early Step in Strategy to Bring More Supply Chain Options From the South.

FROM Immingham’s South Humber bank to the northern Spanish Port of Bilbao – a recent report on Business Live Humber reports how ABP has secured this new shipping link.

According to the article, WEC Lines set sail on the new weekly route last month (January) using Dutch vessel MV Freya – a 118m long boat, which has a capacity of 658 trailer equivalent units.

It has been described by all concerned as a “significant boost to retailers handling food and clothing”. It is also hoped this will be a forerunner, with more supply chain options moving up from the southern UK ports.

Delighted by the development, which comes after a £36 million terminal expansion at Immingham, Simon Bird, ABP Humber’s regional director said: “This is fantastic news for ABP Humber and WEC Lines, increasing our connectivity around the world and keeping Britain trading.”

Roger Megann, managing director of WEC Lines UK, added: “We are responding to market demand to bring containers closer to the shipper or consignees’ door. Immingham plays a key role in this through its central East Coast position.

“By removing the road miles from door to door our clients will benefit from reduced costs, zero congestion, lower emissions and improved control over their stock,” he added.

Meanwhile in a follow-up report, Claire Screen, ABP’s head of commercial when it comes to containers, said the excellent road and rail connections beyond the terminals provided reliable, cost-effective and sustainable supply chain solutions for businesses.

To read these stories in full please go to:

https://www.business-live.co.uk/ports-logistics/hola-immingham-new-bilbao-shipping-19630016

https://www.business-live.co.uk/ports-logistics/new-container-queen-more-cargo-19665111

Port of Immingham’s new Spanish service is an early step in a strategy to bring more supply chain options up from the south.

The weekly Bilbao sailing started on Sunday, with clothing and food flagged up for retailers.

It comes after investments totalling £50 million were made on the Humber to make the Europe-facing northern gateway more appealing.

And Claire Screen, ABP’s head of commercial when it comes to containers, said the excellent road and rail connections beyond the terminals on both banks provide reliable and cost-effective and sustainable supply chain solutions for businesses.

Hull and Immingham have both seen huge investment to bring extra capacity and efficiencies across what it markets as Humber Container Terminal, with daily frequent services to major continental ports for both roll-on roll-off and load-on load-off cargoes.

Reflecting on her first few months in the role, Claire said: “Against the backdrop of the global pandemic, 2020 brought many challenges for businesses across the world, nevertheless, ABP has risen to the challenge and has continued to build up its resilience by investing in port infrastructure and its container-handling facilities.

“I joined the business during the pandemic. It was a very exciting time to be joining ABP’s team on the Humber, with the investments made within the Humber Container Terminal, which mean we can bring greater flexibility for customers with no forward booking for collections or drop-offs and increased capacity.