New freight service from Dunkirk to Liverpool launched as post-Brexit congestion at channel ports continues

A new freight service from France to the Port of Liverpool which offers suppliers a way to avoid the post-Brexit delays at the Channel Ports has been launched by Containerships, part of the global CMA CGM shipping group.

Part of the CMA CGM shipping group, the firm is now operating vessels between Dunkirk in northern France and the Port of Liverpool.

David Huck, MD, Peel Ports Group, said: “The new service from Containerships is recognition of the need to ease congestion in southern ports closer to the EU border and ensure minimum lead times for their customers.

“The impact of Brexit and Covid-19 continue to highlight the vulnerability of supply chains to disruption and the need to improve supply chain resilience.

“We continue to work closely with the world’s leading shipping lines to encourage more services to the Port of Liverpool and help to alleviate some of the pinch points on supply chains that have previously relied on goods to enter and exit the UK via the South East.

“We are now moving forward with our plans for 150 new skilled jobs on Merseyside off the back of further business growth.

“The addition of another new service connecting our port with mainland Europe is the result of our continued investment and helps to further position Liverpool front and centre on the global trading stage.”

Rob Waterman, chief executive of Containerships, added: “As a customer-centric company, we are always looking for new ways to provide our customers with differentiated services, fast transit times and efficient access to their inland destinations.

“Our new DUNK route, connecting Liverpool and Bristol in the UK with Dunkirk in France, gives suppliers on the continent direct access to businesses in the north of the UK. The Port of Liverpool is ideally located, perfectly connected via road, rail, and sea to the rest of the UK.”