Samskip intensifies shortsea connectivity between Ireland and Netherlands
Samskip has strengthened its footprint in Ireland. The transport company added Waterford as a new port call for its shortsea lines between the island and the Netherlands. With the new option, Samskip will offer more opportunities to the shippers across Europe, especially to those in the Netherlands, Germany and Poland.
The year 2021 will undoubtedly go down in the history of Samskip’s shortsea business as Irish. Four months ago, in late January, the Dutch company in a partnership with TMA Logistics launched the second line from the Netherlands to Ireland. It was the Amsterdam (TMA Terminal Amsterdam) – Dublin service that improved connectivity between the countries and became a fruitful addition of the existing links starting in the Port of Rotterdam and ending in several harbours on the island (Belfast, Dublin, Waterford, Cork).
Now, the shipping line has included Ireland’s Port of Waterford for calling on its Amsterdam – Dublin route. “Samskip has responded to a growing demand for its recently launched weekly container service between Dublin and Amsterdam by introducing a larger, faster ship and adding a call at Port of Waterford,” the Dutch company explained.
New opportunities
The new port call will spur rail freight in the mainland Europe and Ireland as well. “Samskip rail links between TMA and Duisburg connect Irish importers and exporters to markets farther east. Adding Waterford brings new opportunities for Irish exports in the northern Netherlands, Germany, Poland and beyond,” Thijs Goumans, Head of Ireland Trade at Samskip, added.
With the new option, Ireland will be able to more efficiently develop its rail freight services. In late June, Iarnród Eireann, the Irish national railway operator, and XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of transport and logistics solutions, will start a new twice-weekly rail freight service in each direction between Ballina, County Mayo, and the Port of Waterford. According to the estimation, this rail freight service will annually remove more than 5,000 trucks from the Irish roads and will reduce emissions by 75 per cent per unit. “The addition of a shortsea connection to Amsterdam by one of our leading service partners demonstrates the growth opportunities that exist in both directions for direct links between Ireland and other EU markets,” Frank Ronan, the Port of Waterford’s CEO, summed up.