Feature, Freight News, Sea

New inland link for Liverpool

[ November 17, 2015   //   Chris ]

Logistics company Quality Freight and Peel Ports have launched a new weekly container service between Liverpool and Ellesmere Port operated by Peel’s shipping arm, BG Freight.

The new service, which departs Liverpool’s Seaforth terminal on Fridays, is in addition to the port’s existing service up the Manchester Ship Canal service which has been extended to three sailings a week.

The initiative is part of Peel Ports’ Liverpool2 deep water container terminal project, due to open early next year. It will double the capacity of the Port of Liverpool and allow it to handle ships of around 13,000teu.

Quality Freight managing director, Sebastian Gardiner, said: “The volumes we are handling are growing year-on-year and this significantly increased service will help to meet the needs of existing and new customers at Ellesmere Port. One of the most exciting aspects is the opportunity to reduce the amount of traffic on the roads and clearing boxes from an area where potential bottle-necks and delays exist.

“We have estimated that the new and increased services have the potential to slash the number of road miles by up to half a million a year.”

Earlier this year, Quality Freight UK agreed a new 20-year lease with Peel Ports for its 40-acre multi-modal facility in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

The partners have also reopened the rail head at Ellesmere Port in 2011.

BG Freight Line chief executive, Koert Luitwieler, said: “We see this schedule as a huge step forward which will enable us to offer very reliable shipping solutions for our customers. The increased frequency on the canal and the introduction of Ellesmere Port will drive more and more containers from road/rail to environmentally friendly waterways.”

Pictured: Seb Gardiner (left) with Peel Port’s Andrew Martin

Tags: Peel Ports, Quality Freight