Short Sea Boost for Scottish Exporters

Operated by the Danish company Unifeeder, Europe’s largest provider of short-sea container routes, the service will link ports across the North Sea and the Baltic with the oceanic hubs of Rotterdam and Hamburg.

The arrival of the MV Veersdijk, the first of three vessels working three loops, reflects the continuing recovery of the container trade in Northern Europe and the growing importance of Grangemouth, which has seen container traffic grow by 150% over the last 10 years.

European short sea route volumes are rising despite recessional dips over the past few years. Container volumes at the port stand at 150,000 teu per year, with the number of export containers exceeding imports.