Ro-ro specialist expands service

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) – the global roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) shipping and factory-to-dealer logistics specialist – has completed a passage from Asia to the Port of Tyne near Newcastle, England. “Our regular ro-ro service from Asia to Europe via the Suez and Panama Canals is enhanced by the possibility of a direct vessel calling to Tyne,” says Paul Reeves, managing director of WWL UK. “It’s connected to solid inland distribution services to the UK and Ireland thanks to the service capabilities of WWL ALS, which is responsible for our UK inland network services.” WWL brought its first shipment of construction equipment into Tyne on MV Tristan. It arrived on July 16 after sailing more than 8,000 nautical miles in a deep-sea transit taking about 30 days’ sailing from loading ports in Asia via the Suez and Zeebrugge in Belgium. This call was arranged due to WWL customer demand. Tyne isn’t a regular port of call, although it may easily be added to the existing WWL Asia to Europe service if there is sufficient demand. “This meets the demands of plant and heavy equipment manufacturers wishing to move cargo via the port and brings added connectivity to Tyne with a new ro-ro service,” says Steven Harrison from Port of Tyne. “It also shows possibilities of WWL providing flexibility and solutions for companies from various markets.”