Finnlines has announced that it will soon launch a new freight service from Finland to London Medway located in Sheerness, with further connections available to Belgium, Spain, and Ireland.
According to Finnlines, the first arrival will take place on 23 September 2024. The service will be operated by three Finneco-class hybrid ro-ro vessels, each with a cargo capacity of 5,800 lane metres, equivalent to around 400 trailers.
To reduce emissions, the vessels are equipped with many advanced technologies such as air lubrication, a high-powered battery bank and solar panels.
Finnlines says the new connection will provide customers with shorter transit times and increased cargo capacity. Customers will be able to access the entire Finnlines and the Grimaldi Group network via Zeebrügge and Antwerp.
Commenting on the launch of the new service, Merja Kallio-Mannila, Finnlines’ Commercial Director, said:
“Finnlines continues to strengthen its services by increasing cargo capacity for the UK service. Furthermore, the launch of our new service from Sheerness secures an important trade route between England and the Continent, further solidifying our position in the market. We are constantly improving our services to our customers and looking for new growth opportunities.”
Richard Goffin, Port Director for Peel Ports Group, London Medway, added:
“Location is everything and as a port, London Medway’s proximity to the nation’s capital and distribution networks means it is perfectly placed to connect importers and exporters with their markets. We expect this new service will be popular with both established and emerging markets, which are seeing strong growth in the South-East of the UK, and in particular forest products which are in high demand. London Medway also handles a vast array of cargo including automotive, steel and ro-ro, so we expect a wide variety of commodities to be transported on Finnlines’ versatile fleet, placing the port as a key interchange between Scandinavia and Iberian markets.”