17 January 2014

London Thamesport Welcomes A2B Moerdijk Service
London Thamesport has welcomed the announcement of a new short sea container shipping service by A2B-online, the Dutch-based transport company specialising in full load, part load and pallet consignments to and from the United Kingdom, Benelux and Germany.
The new container shipping service, which will commence on 28 January 2014, will offer three sailings a week to the Dutch port of Moerdijk. Sailings will be provided by the 340 TEU m.s.Expansa.
Commenting on the new service, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, owners of London Thamesport, said:
“London Thamesport offers its customers a service tailored to their specific demands. A2B-online have made clear their need for an exceptional level of service, which is what we pride ourselves on and which we are ready and able to provide.”
Gerard de Groot, A2B-online Container’s Managing Director, added:
“This is a magnificent moment for all of us. It is fantastic to see that our initial service that we started last summer has been picked up by so many customers which enables us now to start up this new route to London Thamesport.
“Naturally we have investigated various options. Besides fast turnaround times at the terminal we need an efficient and effective ships operation as well; that is why we decided for London Thamesport. It is furthermore our intention to add one additional sailing per week after three months, meaning servicing London Thamesport four times a week. That is the advantage of London Thamesport: no locks to go through, shorter crossings and quick handlings of the ship.”
A2B-online’s main shareholder, Kees Vierhouten of the Vierhouten Group, is also very pleased with the latest development of the Container Division of A2B-online. Commenting on the division, he said:
“It is a good product, the knowledge and expertise which is available is great and in conjunction with the Trailer Division we are developing a sustainable logistics company in primary transport, that is our objective.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For further information, please contact Paul Davey, Head of Corporate Affairs, on Tel No: +44 (0)1394 602063, Fax No: +44 (0)1394 604943 or E-mail daveyps@hpuk.co.uk / www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk

London Thamesport (LTP) is located in the heart of South East England, 10 miles from the M2 motorway, 35 miles from London. It is one of the UK’s busiest container ports. LTP is a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group. Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL), is the world’s leading port investor, developer and operator. The HPH network of port operations comprises 319 berths in 52 ports, spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Over the years, HPH has expanded internationally into other logistics, transportation-related and hotel businesses. These include cruise ship terminals, airport and hotel operations, distribution centres, rail services, and ship repair facilities. In 2012, the HPH port network handled a combined throughput of 76.8 million TEU worldwide.