Cargo volumes between Sweden and Belgium are growing. To meet the demand, the Danish-owned ro-ro* shipping company DFDS is planning to add a further vessel on the route between Gothenburg and Ghent. This will bring the number of departures each week to eight in both directions.
“Although we already have three of our largest vessels operating on this route, all the decks are full. This has led to the decision to expand capacity and create further potential to increase volumes,” said DFDS vice president and route director Morgan Olausson.
Ark Germania will begin operating in August, departing from the Gothenburg Roro Terminal. She will carry 190 trailers and 150 cars.
Automotive industry a major customer
Vehicles, industrial components steel and forest products account for a large proportion of the cargo shipped on this route. Major customers include Volvo Cars, AB Volvo, Scania, DSV and DFDS Logistics.
The catchment area is mainly BeNeLux, France and Germany. Many Swedish goods are transshipped via Belgian ports for onward movement to other markets.
20 calls per week
Apart from DFDS, Swedish Orient Line and CLdN operate services to Belgium via the ports in Antwerp and Zeebrugge. The Port of Gothenburg now has 20 calls by vessels from Belgium each week.
