Spanish company Suardiaz has secured €3 million of Motorway of the Seas money from the European Union’s Marco Polo II programme to fund expansion of its ro-ro service between St Nazaire’s Montoir de Bretagne ro-ro terminal and Vigo. Although the 460 nautical mile/27-hour crossing primarily exists to service a PSA Citroën GEFCO contract carrying 45,000 new cars and 9,000 GEFCO trailers with automotive parts, it also carries ro-ro freight.
Operated by Suardiaz’s multipurpose ro-ro Suar Vigo, the service is to expand from two to three sailings each week through the addition of another ship, L’Audace, sister to Suar Vigo. Originally scheduled to start in October, the additional sailings have now been put back until early 2015 due to French budgetary constraints. The 15,300gt 12-driver capacity vessels have a dedicated upper car deck and three full height freight decks, and can carry 110 trailers plus 250 cars. MD
