New ship will cut transit times by 20%

TRANSIT times between one of the country’s key ports and the Netherlands is to be significantly cut, following the launch of a new container ship yesterday.

Fireworks exploded into the night sky as Norfolkline Containers Ireland proudly launched Maersk Waterford in Waterford Harbour.

The Maersk Waterford is the first purpose-built container ship to serve Waterford Port and will reduce transit times between Rotterdam and Waterford by 20%.

Norfolkline is part of the Norfolkline group with its head office in Holland. Its container division was established in 1997, connecting

Waterford with Rotterdam on a fixed weekly schedule.

Environment Minister Martin Cullen commended the investment in the new Waterford vessel.

“Maritime transport plays a crucial role in Irish commercial life.

“Almost 100% of our external trade passes through our seaports with all-time record levels of through-put at some 46 million tonnes recorded in 2000 and 2001.”

The ship will increase service reliability and enable transit times to be reduced from 42 hours to 34 hours with a capacity for about 240, 45-foot containers, giving further increased competitive advantage to Norfolkline’s customers.

Container services, with a high level of reliability, can meet exporters’ needs for the future and offer a cost-effective reliable solution to the transport requirements.