This week Atlantic Ro-Ro Carriers (ARRC) celebrates the maiden voyage of the Baltic Mercur II via the port of Antwerp as part of their regular transatlantic service to the US Gulf. After long deliberation and extensive analysis, the company has chosen to anchor the European extension of ARRC’s multipurpose service in Antwerp.
ARRC has been operating as the only direct transatlantic MPP carrier between St Petersburg Russia and the USA for the past 20 years. With a mixed fleet of LORO and LOLO vessels the company is responsible for moving almost half a million tons of ferrous and non ferrous metals, thousands of units of specialized equipment for the oilwell, mining, construction and agricultural sectors, as well as thousands of TEUs and FEUs for various industries in both directions annually.
The service expansion to north west continent comes just in time of the Line’s fleet upgrade initiative. Starting in 2014 and continuing through 2016, ARRC and the CISN Shipping Group intend to replace 75% of their entire fleet and upgrade their tonnage with modern 2003 – 2011 year built, abt 30000 dwt MPP vessels with max gear lifting capacities upto 200 tons. ARRC intends to run four of such upgraded vessels on the Baltic – Cont – US Gulf Service.
The service will be offered with monthly frequency and will be open to general break bulk, metals and steel cargoes, oversized and heavy equipment and containers. The service will be supported by European agency Network, heading which will be Ernst Glaessel Gmbh Hamburg and backed by local agency services of Neptumar NV in Antwerp and Neptumar BV in Rotterdam.
The Port of Antwerp congratulates ARRC with this maiden voyage and is grateful for the new service calling at Antwerp. The president of the Antwerp Port Authority, Marc Van Peel, will visit the stand of ARRC at Breakbulk Europe today (20 May) to hand over a token of appreciation for ARRC’s confidence in the port of Antwerp.