On 23 November 2015 P&O Ferries announced that it has carried its millionth unit of freight out of the port of Tilbury, after an increase in volumes of almost 300 per cent since it launched the North Sea route to the continent eight years ago.
The ferry company is on course to carry a record 210,000 units of freight between Tilbury and its Zeebrugge hub this year, up from 70,000 units in the first full year of operation in 2008.
The news illustrates the rapidly growing demand for importing and exporting consumable goods such as paper, steel, food, detergents and machinery into a port just 25 miles from central London and seven miles from the M25.
P&O Ferries sails two ships, Norstream and Norsky, between Tilbury and Zeebrugge. Both vessels are ideally suited for the Thames, with the capacity to double-stack containers and also offering cabins for freight drivers.
The news follows P&O Ferries’ strong performance on the English Channel in Q3 when it carried its highest ever volume of freight between Dover and Calais, a total of 367,000 units which represents a 30 per cent year-on-year increase.
