We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Europe Lines Container service between the ports of Drogheda and Rotterdam. The first sailing is scheduled to depart from Rotterdam on Friday, 17^th November.  The route will be serviced initially with one vessel, on a weekly basis, sailing from Rotterdam every Friday evening from Barge Centre Waalhaven , ready to arrive every Monday at Drogheda.

The vessel selected for the service is the mv ‘Europe Orion’, capable of accommodating a wide variety of container types where, apart from the standard 20ft and 40ft, the service will be offering its customers the latest 45ft pallet wide units.  There is also a demand for customers’ own units, including 30ft tanks and bulkers.  The new service has been designed to meet customers’ requirements on this important trade route and is geared to meet these demands.

According to Mr Aidan Lawler, Joint Managing Director,  Johnson Stevens Ireland Ltd, ‘Drogheda Port has been chosen by Europe Lines as its Irish Port of call because of its proven track record as an efficient containerised port and its ability to serve the entire Irish market from an un-congested location’.

In welcoming the new service Mr Paul Fleming, Chief Executive, Drogheda Port Company stated that ‘Europe lines are committed to providing efficient and cost effective short sea shipping services to their customers and Drogheda Port can play a vital part in achieving this objective. The new line will present Irish importers and exporters with additional choice and assist in beating congestion.’

The Europe Lines Rotterdam/Drogheda service will be represented in The Netherlands by Slavenburg & Huyser and in Ireland by Johnson Stevens Ireland Ltd.  Both Companies have put together teams of experienced personnel, ready to service the customers’ requirements.  All involved with this exciting project are looking forward to the challenges ahead and look forward within a short space of time to increasing the service to two sailings per week.

Ends. 

Company profiles:

Drogheda Port Company

Drogheda Port is one of Ireland’s premier multi modal ports strategically located on the east coast with direct motorway access to the country’s key industrial and commercial centres. The port is continuing to develop and expand by offering its customers a strategic locational advantage in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The port has built a solid reputation on high levels of customer service, flexibility, and the rapid turnaround of vessels. Few ports boast such a prime position for taking advantage of the ever increasing opportunities in European and Scandinavian trades, in addition to the emerging markets of Eastern Europe and the ever changing patterns of short sea container trade.

Drogheda Port has established itself as Ireland's gateway to Scandinavia with the country’s only weekly service to Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The port is also Irelands major distribution and logistics centre for newsprint.

Website: http://www.droghedaport.ie

3A Marine Group

The UK based 3A Marine Holding Ltd. was founded in 2004 with a strategic objective to invest and develop both conventional and containerised Shipping Lines, and to purchase suitable tonnage for these Lines.

The company has already established a regular conventional Liner operation from and to the Northern Continent, the Baltic and Scandinavia to feeder deep sea operators cargoes. Both services were demanded by the market but were hardly served with a regular Liner operation. These two Lines are in the process of continuous development, and we are increasing the size of our fleet. This will mean that more ports will be served with a shorter frequency.

It is and will remain company policy to offer a high quality, well researched and cost efficient service to the market.

Website:  http://www.3amarine.co.uk  

Europe lines

Europe Lines is a recently formed Company and part of the 3A Marine Group, which has been investing heavily in a variety of projects.  Europe Lines itself has been established to concentrate on the ever-increasing intra-European market and will initially concentrate on serving specific niche routes, tailored to meet the volume shipment requirements and to be focused on meeting customers’ needs, whether that be the door/door market, shipper’s own units or deep sea Lines’ transhipments.

Website:  http://www.europe-lines.co.uk

Johnson Stevens Ireland Ltd 

Johnson Stevens Ireland was established in 1979 in conjunction with Johnson Stevens Agencies in the UK which was itself established in 1976.  Johnson Stevens quickly emerged as a leading Liner Agency in the Irish market and now has three owned offices in Dublin, Cork and Belfast.  In addition to Europe Lines the company’s main Agencies are Yang Ming Line to and from Asia and The Far East, Independent Container Line on the Trans Atlantic trade, Holland Maas Shipping to and from Spain, Portugal and Casablanca, WEC Lines to East Africa and Unifeeder to and from Scandinavia.  The company employs in excess of 40 people.

Slavenburg & Huyser BV

Slavenburg & Huyse B.V. is one of the most important independent ship-broking and logistic service providing companies still remaining in Rotterdam.

Slavenburg & Huyser B.V. has more than 56 years of experience, world-wide. Good, reliable mutual relationships and personal contacts with the chain of shippers and ship-owners, alongside the knowledge and quality of our service, are the best guarantee for reliable business relations.

Website:  http://www.slavenburg-en-huyser.com 

Further information:

Paul Fleming

Chief Executive

Drogheda Port Company

Phone 041 98 38378

Email: paulfleming@droghedaport.ie

Aidan Lawler

Joint Managing Director

Johnson Stevens Ireland Ltd

Phone: 01 8247700

Email: a.lawler@johnsonstevens.ie