United European Car Carriers (UECC) and the Spanish Port of Santander are launching a new freight service for cars, trailers and high-and-heavy cargo between Santander and the Belgian Port Zeebrugge this month.
The service will rely on two high-capacity UECC B-class vessels – the Auto Bank and Auto Bay – and will operate three sailings a week with a transit time of 42 hours, calling at Santander and Zeebrugge every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The service will also make a northbound call every Saturday at the Spanish Port of Pasajes, and a southbound call every Saturday at Southampton in the UK.
A large degree of the trailer movements on the new service will be handled by the road division of Spanish freight provider Transfesa.
At the official launch ceremony, held at the port’s Roas 8 berthing facility at midday today (Wednesday 16th September), the chairman of the Santander Port Authority Christian Manrique Valdor was joined by managing director of UECC Craig Jasienski.
“With the inauguration of this new service, UECC will offer regular high capacity sailings for the transportation of trade vehicles, machinery and self-propelled or static cargo between Spain and North Europe,” said Jasienski. “Crane and inland services for static cargo are available in partnership with specialist operators. From Zeebrugge, UECC can offer connections with most main ports in northern Europe and also to the Mediterranean and Black Sea.”
From October this year, a new ramp will be commissioned in the Port of Santander with capacity for cargo up to 400 tons, which will lessen restrictions for ro-ro units and static cargo up to 75 tons loaded on roll-trailers.
