September 18 - The Port of Cleveland and Spliethoff Group have announced their mutual intent to add a second monthly vessel to the Cleveland-Europe-Express scheduled ocean service for containerised and breakbulk cargo.
With two ships, the Cleveland-Europe-Express will offer regularly scheduled departures every two weeks from both Antwerp and Cleveland.
The service has been operating since April with one vessel, Fortunagracht, providing shippers with faster door-to-door transit times between Europe and North America.
"We have established the Cleveland-Europe-Express as a legitimate, cost effective alternative for the breakbulk and heavy lift market," said Bart Peters, director Atlantic department at Spliethoff Group.
"Now with the second ship, we can offer a very attractive option for container shippers. The advantages of an all-water service to the US Midwest, combined with our transhipment connections in Antwerp throughout Europe and the world, make this a very powerful alternative," he added.
William Friedman, president and ceo of the Port of Cleveland, said that although the Cleveland-Europe-Express was planned and marketed to serve both the containerised and breakbulk markets; breakbulk, heavy lift and project moves have taken off faster.
Fortunagracht.
