P&O Ferries Capturing Growth Potential in North Sea

The Mistral (1,625 lane metres) will take up service from January 2015 alongside the Bore Song enabling the company to increase frequency on Teesport – Zeebrugge from three departures per week to a daily service.

P&O Ferries will also increase capacity on its Teesport – Europoort route.  The Estraden (2,270 lane metres) will take up service after the ship presently on the Dutch route is returned to its owners.

The ships have been selected for their efficiency, with the introduction of the new low sulphur emissions legislation from 2015 in mind.

Estraden will be fitted with two Norsepower wind rotors and NAPA Optimisation equipment and Mistral features an efficient single engine, fitted with variable frequency drive.

In addition investment in the Bore Song will see her operating with a fully installed sulphur scrubber in January.

At Teesport, PD Ports has invested more than £3m in a new intermodal rail terminal.  This will enable the port to connect by rail with Scotland and the Midlands, as well as handling existing intermodal trains from Felixstowe and Southampton.

Janette Bell, commercial director for P&O Ferries, said: “We are moving fast to capture the growth potential in the North Sea freight market and the new rail service complements our own market leading rail capability at our Zeebrugge hub.”