Liverpool2 to become home to St Lawrence vessel

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is to move its Liverpool operations for its Europe-Canada trade to the port’s deepwater container terminal Liverpool2.

The new vessel has a capacity 67% greater than the OOCL Belgium, which it is replacing. The 294-metre OOCL St Lawrence has a capacity of 5,024 TEUs [twenty-foot equivalent units].

OOCL has also confirmed that Liverpool2 will be a permanent call, as part of a rotation including Montreal, Bremerhaven, Antwerp and Le Havre.

Terry Brant, OOCL’s general manager, operations, said: “OOCL has worked closely with Peel Ports over the past 40 years, and see this new move as a key enabler to help strengthen our overall position in the market.

“In doing so, it will enable OOCL to continue to play an influential role in offering more competitive and best-in-class services to our customers.”

David Huck, managing director of Peel Ports, which operates Liverpool2, added: “We’ve seen how ports are key enablers of the UK’s supply chain. Despite the recent challenges facing the economy, we’ve forged ahead with our programme of diversification and growth across the business through investments in infrastructure and technologies.”