World’s largest container shipping line strikes new deal in Hull
A new agreement has been struck to offer deep-sea connections from the Port of Hull to the rest of the world.
The new service for ABP’s Hull Container Terminal and Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping line, has been established to open a trading link to the Far East and beyond.
The service begins in the new year into the 21-acre container terminal, which has seen recent investment by ABP. The weekly feeder vessels will see ABP handle around 240 boxes per week, equivalent to 12,000 containers per year.
Simon Bird, ABP Humber director, said: “Unlocking this new trade gateway to the rest of the world is not only significant for the local economy, but also for the national and international economy.
“We’re proud to welcome the world’s largest container shipping line, Maersk, on board to the Hull Container Terminal, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership and building further trade links.
“We believe that the Humber Container Terminals – Hull and Immingham – are now the premier container destinations in the North of England, offering an unrivalled service. We have recently invested £50m into these terminals including our two £10.5m gantry cranes at the Hull Container Terminal.”
The recent investment means the Hull Container Terminal can now handle double its container capacity, of around 240,000 containers per year.
Chris Vause, ABP commercial manager, added: “We have recently opened up connections to Ghent, Rotterdam and Amsterdam and the fact that we now have a significant world-wide container line on board, proves that Hull Container Terminal is a powerhouse in its own right.”
Asbjorn Kops, Maersk’s product manager for UK & Ireland, said: “At Maersk, we continuously work on improving our local product offering, ensuring that our portfolio meets the expectations of our customers and helps them grow their business.
“Our short-sea connections complement our ocean services and connect our customers with markets around the world.”
