Peel Ports celebrated the return of Maersk to the Port of Liverpool with a formal welcome reception for its feeder vessel, Antwerp. The event on 27 April 2016 was attended by Seago and Maersk representatives along with customers, and was followed by a port tour, including a trip to the top of the 90m (300ft) Grain Tower affording views over the whole site.
The 1,100 TEU Antwerp made her first call last week. Operator Seago is the latest carrier to introduce a new service via Liverpool and will provide a new cargo route between Algeciras-Liverpool-Dublin.
The feeder service will further strengthen Liverpool2’s Irish Sea Hub offering and establish direct cargo connections to and from the north-west of England to Ireland and onwards to the Mediterranean, providing trade links to North and West Africa. The new service will offer a six-day transit time between Algeciras and Liverpool, with vessels arriving and departing on Wednesdays.
Patrick Walters, Commercial Director at Peel Ports, said: “This is a significant step in the transformation taking place at the Port of Liverpool. Seago is one of several new services that we have secured already in 2016. Along with the progress at Liverpool2, the imminent opening of the Port Salford national import centre, and the backing we’ve received from cargo owners joining our Cargo200 initiative, there is a real sense of momentum about the North West.”
Seago Line General Manager for UK & Ireland, Robert Clegg said: “We were very pleased to host this event to celebrate the new Antwerp service and appreciate the warm hospitality shown by Peel Ports. The views of the Port, including the Liverpool2 development, plus much of the city are exceptional from the top of the Grain Tower.
“We are thrilled to offer this new connection to Liverpool and expand our product portfolio for markets in the UK and Ireland. With competitive transit times and convenient berthing windows, we are well placed to serve customers who seek new opportunities through this Mediterranean connection. Furthermore, our customers located in the Liverpool hinterland can now access South European and North African markets with Seago Line as a complementary addition to our existing offer.”
