Cleveland-Europe Express Service Doubled

The U.S. Port of Cleveland and Amsterdam-based Spliethoff Group are planning to add a second monthly vessel to the Cleveland-Europe Express (CEE), the only scheduled ocean service for containerized and breakbulk freight operating between Europe and a Great Lakes port, according to Spliethoff.

“We are extremely pleased to announce our intent to add a second sailing to the CEE starting next season or perhaps sooner to better accommodate the needs of the containerized segment of the market, which requires more frequent sailings,” said Will Friedman, CEO of the Port of Cleveland.

With two ships, the CEE will offer regularly scheduled departures every two weeks from both Antwerp and Cleveland.

The CEE has been operating since April with one ship, the Fortunagracht.

“We have established the CEE as a legitimate, cost effective alternative for the breakbulk and heavy lift market,” said Bart Peters, Director Atlantic Department, Spliethoff Group.

“Now with the second ship, we can offer a very attractive option for container shippers. The advantages of an all-water service to the U.S. Midwest, combined with our transshipment connections in Antwerp throughout Europe and the world, make this a very powerful alternative”.

The Port of Cleveland and Spliethoff also announced a new stevedore for CEE when in Cleveland. C-Port Maritime, a sister operation to Valport, operator of the Port of Valleyfield on the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, is now the terminal operator for the CEE at the Port of Cleveland.