Feature, Freight News, Sea

Bigger ships to boost Seatruck space

[ June 21, 2018   //   Chris ]

Seatruck Ferries is to increase capacity on its Warrenpoint to Heysham route by 30%, or 30,000 trailers a year, by deploying two larger freight ferries on the route later this summer.

The four-deck 2012-built Seatruck Precision and Seatruck Performance will replace the current three-deck vessels, operating a twice daily service between the ports.

Chief executive Alistair Eagles, said:  “Adding larger ships to the Warrenpoint route is the next logical step for Seatruck and I have no doubt that it will be very popular providing more unaccompanied trailer space to our growing customer base, as the industry seeks solutions to the ongoing driver shortage.”

He added that the larger vessels underlined the need for the Southern Relief Road to connect Warrenpoint Port directly to the main Belfast-Dublin motorway.

Chief executive of Warrenpoint Port, Clare Guinness, added:  “Our recently launched Masterplan outlined our vision for the development of the port for the benefit of the wider economy and community. Part of that strategy is to grow freight ferry volumes and this welcome announcement will assist the port in realising that vision.”

Seatruck says that its unaccompanied trailer volumes have risen by more than 250% since 2007.

In Heysham, Peel Ports has recently invested £10m in a new loading ramp.

The deployment of the two larger FSG series vessels will free up the current two P series ships built in 2008. Seatruck is currently examining various redeployment options for these vessels.

Tags: Heysham, Seatruck, Warrenpoint