May 21 - Atlantic Ro-Ro Carriers' (ARRC) multipurpose vessel Baltic Mercur II has made its first voyage from Russia to the US Gulf via the port of Antwerp.
ARRC has chosen to anchor the European extension of its multipurpose service in Antwerp.
The service expansion to the northwest of the Continent comes at the same time as ARRC's fleet upgrade initiative.
Starting in 2014 and continuing through 2016, ARRC and the CISN Shipping Group intend to replace 75 percent of their entire fleet and upgrade tonnage with modern 30,000 dwt multipurpose vessels featuring maximum gear lifting capacities of 200 tonnes, built between 2003 and 2011.
ARRC intends to run four of these upgraded vessels on the Baltic - Europe - US Gulf service. The service will be offered with monthly frequency and will be open to general breakbulk, metals and steel cargoes, oversized and heavy equipment and containers.
The service will be supported by a European agency network, which will be headed by Ernst Glaessel in Hamburg and backed by the local agency services of Neptumar in Antwerp and Rotterdam.
ARRC's vessel Baltic Mercur.
