Exporters from Spain and the Iberian Peninsula will now be able to transport their goods directly to markets in mainland Britain thanks to a new co-operation between P&O Ferries and Finnlines, which offers ferry services from Zeebrugge to Bilbao and Santander.
P&O Ferries runs 98 sailings a week from the British east coast ports of Tilbury, Hull and Teesport respectively to its main continental hub at Zeebrugge. By connecting with these routes, Finnlines’ ferries from Zeebrugge to the Spanish ports of Bilbao and Santander will provide a seamless service spanning the 1,100 miles between northern Spain and north-eastern England and Scotland.
Nick Pank, P&O Ferries’ Head of Sales Development for the North Sea, said: “Anyone who needs to transport freight between Spain and Britain will now be able to make a single booking and take advantage of a maximum transit time of five days between the Spanish port from which goods depart and the British port at which they arrive, or vice versa.”
“The Ro-Ro vessels which we use on these routes are suitable for all kinds of commodities including those being carried in trailers, containers, low loaders and any Ro-Ro units or project cargo. The deck heights and ramp strengths are also suitable for a variety of oversized and overweight cargoes.”
“The reliability and punctuality of our inter-connecting sea routes will make a compelling alternative to more expensive road or rail transport. Our priority is to help our freight customers get their goods on their way to market as soon as possible.”
The ferry and logistics company expects to see strong volumes of project cargo, machinery and machine parts, packaging, aluminium, car parts, fruit and vegetables, batteries and paper being transported between Spain and Britain.
