WEC Lines has announced that from 29 June 2024, the company will launch a direct, weekly service with short transit times connecting Portugal and Spain with Ireland and the United Kingdom in one seamless, fully controlled operation.
The new weekly service will be performed by an 812-TEU owned vessel in a fixed-day rotation, departing Bilbao on Saturdays, arriving in Dublin on Mondays, and Liverpool on Tuesdays, providing clients with a heightened level of flexibility and efficiency, such as rapid end-mile delivery.
As Roger Megann, Managing Director WEC Lines UK, pointed out: “WEC Lines has been active in the Irish market for over 30 years from Portugal and, following our successful entry into the Spanish market in 2021 by connecting Bilbao to Liverpool, our clients in both trades have been requesting WEC Lines to add Dublin and offer a wider product scope. This was further encouraged when WEC Lines entered the reefer market at the beginning of 2024 as there is a strong reefer trade between Ireland, Spain and Portugal.”
This natural progression and evolution of WEC Lines’ services also allows the Dutch carrier to continue growing its trade between Spain and Portugal to Liverpool as demanded by its clients in both the dry and reefer market to offer increased frequency, faster transits, and deliver reliability. Liverpool will now be called twice a week, as it is also a port of call in the existing NSC UK/PT service. Overall, WEC Lines commitment to the Irish Sea network will ensure a premium service to its clients.
In addition, this strategically designed route seamlessly integrates with WEC Lines’ rail connections between Bilbao and Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Zaragoza, and Agoncillo (La Rioja) as well as its existing short sea linkages with Setúbal, Leixões, Vigo, Gijón, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Casablanca, and Agadir.
“We are delighted with this new upgrade and expansion of our current services, adding a weekly direct service to Dublin from Bilbao from where we connect with our sustainable, weekly rail network to inland Spain,” stated Patrick Ram, Managing Director WEC Lines España. “This also creates new opportunities from Canary Islands, Gijón and Vigo in line with our goals of continuously adding value to our products and our commitment to providing the best customer service to our clients.”
The fully owned service connecting the Iberian Peninsula with Dublin and Liverpool safeguards complete and real-time information, thorough monitoring, and immediate operational actions throughout the entire transportation process which is particularly relevant when shipping temperature-sensitive, food-grade, or dangerous cargo. A wide range of equipment will be available i.e., 20’, 40’ DV/HC/HCPW, 45’ HCPW, 45ft reefers, 20’, 40’ flats, and open top containers.
“Our commitment to enhancing connectivity, optimizing schedules, and embracing environmentally conscious practices remains at the forefront of our operations,” stated Morris Gelderland, WEC Lines’ Line Manager Spain & Portugal to/from UK. “The launch of the Irish service underlines our dedication to meet customer demands while contributing positively to the industry.”
For inquiries, bookings, and more information about the new services by WEC Lines, please visit www.weclines.com or contact your local representative.
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