P&O brand jumps back into container market

P&O Maritime Logistics is primed to enter the container carrying market after recently completed the first-ever container fitting modification to the deck of a Multi-Carrying Vessel (MCV).

A DP world subsidiary, the containerised market entry marks a first for P&O Maritime Logistics, who will work with Unifeeder on fast-turnaround, low volume services.

P&O Maritime Logistics’ MCV fleet is now more flexible as it will be able to carry 20-foot, 40-foot and 45-foot containers.

Container fitted MCVs are ideal for lower volume, high frequency shortsea routes as well as trade routes through rivers and to shallow water ports like the transit between Turkey and the Caspian via the Russian rivers, where multiple vessels are expected to be employed next year.

Martin Helweg, CEO of P&O Maritime Logistics said: “As global supply chains have been stretched in recent years, we are entering the container carrying market to help provide additional capacity in the lower-volume, higher-frequency routes. With five more vessels slated to enter the containerised market, we’ll soon be servicing niche trade lanes stretching from the Americas to Southeast Asia.

“We’ll be working closely with our parent company DP World in rolling out of containerised service, beginning with fellow DP World-owned company shortsea feeder service provider, Unifeeder.”

Currently, several MCVs are delivering wind turbine blades, large process modules, reactors, and pressure vessels on shortsea routes and in the open season of the Volga Don Canal, with further deliveries are expected in 2022.

P&O Maritime Logistics’ MCV fleet trades in routes including the Caspian Sea, Black Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea and the Russian Inland Waterway System.

P&O Neddloyd Container Line Limited was acquired by the Danish A.P. Moller – Maersk Group (Maersk) in 2005 to form Maersk Line.

P&O Maritime underwent a merger with Topaz Energy & Marine in a deal worth $1.1 billion in 2019 to create P&O Maritime Logistics.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/po-brand-jumps-back-into-container-market/