Ro-Ro carrier, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, is investing in the Port of Gothenburg, with increased frequency and more destinations to and from the Swedish city.
The move is a response to increased demand from the market for vehicles as well as breakbulk and project loads.
The shipping company says after a challenging year with Covid-19, there is a “glimmer of light” at the end of a longer tunnel than was anticipated, particularly for large parts of industry.
Go deeper with GlobalData
“After a rough patch during 2020 we now have vessels in our global fleet back in traffic globally,” said Wallenius Wilhelmsen GM in Sweden, Nikolai Nymoen.
Today, demand is bigger than in a long time and our vessels depart fully loaded.”
Apart from some cancellations, departure frequency in Gothenburg generally remained at four per month throughout the pandemic. During the spring, the number rose from four to six per month, with new departures opening up extra destinations.
A further addition is Wallenius Wilhelmsen now offers direct services from Gothenburg to the West coast of the US, including ports such as Port Hueneme and Tacoma.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“We are expanding our offering in response to the market,” added Nymoen. “The situation is looking bright with increased volumes among our contract customers and more enquiries on the spot market. There is considerable pressure and high demand and we are doing our utmost to ease the situation by expanding our service schedule.”
Wallenius Wilhelmsen has been operating direct services from Gothenburg to New York, Brunswick and Charleston on the US Eastern seaboard. Also, the shipping line offers six sailings per month to New Zealand, South Africa, South America and Central America via transloading on the continent.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen operates a number of the world’s largest LCTC (Large Car/Truck Carrier) vessels. The vessels can carry up to 8,000 CEU (car-equivalent unit) and are also suited to bulky project loads, an area in which Nymoen says there is growing demand.
“We can handle virtually any load up to 12m × 6.5m,” said Nymoen. “This covers most loads; ranging from large plant components and generators through to trains and helicopters and everything in between.
“We also have the capacity to lift loads on board the weather deck, where we carry wind turbine blades and other equipment that are difficult to roll on board on the stern ramp.”
Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s vessels moor at Logent Ports and Terminals, which handles much of the Port of Gothenburg’s transoceanic Ro-Ro-traffic and the growing volume of project loads, including bridge sections. Logent Ports and Terminals has worked with projects loads a great deal during the past year, driven in part by the major infrastructure projects that are becoming a growing feature of Gothenburg.
“The port as a whole has moved forward during the past year, particularly in the handling of project loads,” noted Gothenburg Port Authority senior Business Development manager, Richard Mellgren.
“Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s investment in Gothenburg is entirely in line with our ambition to consolidate our position as the optimal port for vehicle transport, project loads and breakbulk and where we have identified significant growth potential.”
