‘Illegal’ £35m State Aid For Ferries Faces Legal Challenge (writes The Telegraph)
CLdN is seeking a judicial review of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ decision to hand the £35 million to passenger operators Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Eurotunnel, P&O, Seatruck and Stena.
Seatruck Ferries’ volume across the three routes increased at just over 10% compared with an overall market growth of 3.9%.
Seatruck now operates 76 departures per week on their three Irish Sea routes:
Seatruck believe that the worsening truck driver shortage is leading to a growth in unaccompanied trailer shipments. By shipping trailer only, from ports which reduce road mileage compared with the traditional transit through Wales or Scotland, operators can make significant door to door savings in what is an increasingly competitive logistics landscape, says Seatruck.
In the coming weeks a new £7m loading ramp will be installed at Heysham Port.
Photo: Gordon Hislip
From small beginnings with the single ship the CELTIC STAR, the Seatruck Dublin services have gone from strength to strength. To give an idea: Back in October 2007 Seatruck moved just over 3,000 units of freight from Dublin. Ten years later: 21,000 units. Seatruck Ferries are now one of the largest freight movers in the port.
In the busy midweek period Seatruck now operate 4 daily services to Liverpool and a daily service to Heysham. Seatruck also operate on the popular Warrenpoint – Heysham route.
With driver shortages continuing, Seatruck are expecting an ongoing switch to unaccompanied trailer movements.
In December, a new loading ramp will be installed in the Port of Heysham, which is now directly linked to the motorway network via the new M6 Link.
Seatruck are working closely with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland on the Newry Southern Relief Road project, which will link Warrenpoint Harbour directly to the Belfast – Dublin motorway.
Photo: CLIPPER POINT and SEATRUCK PROGRESS in Dublin Port © Gordon Hislip
Due to increased demand, Seatruck Ferries has added additional Tuesday morning sailings to the busy Liverpool – Dublin route, commencing 17 October 2017.
The additional sailings will take the route total to 40 sailings per week. Across the three routes Seatruck now offer Irish Sea customers 74 sailings per week, allowing for greater flexibility in the shipment of unaccompanied trailers.
Photo © Seatruck Ferries