DCT Gdansk celebrates the festive season with cars galore

On 26 December 2007, the new DCT Gdansk container terminal handled its first car carrier, the 55,729grt Asian Emperor. Part of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) fleet, she discharged over 1700 Mitsubishi motor vehicles manufactured in Asia. These have since been shipped out on board Nobleza, a shortsea car carrier operated by United European Car Carriers (UECC), to the Finnish port of Kotka for eventual delivery to Russian customers.

On 2 January, a second WWL vessel, the 44,219grt Maersk Teal, discharged a further 1576 vehicles for transhipment.

Whilst the DCT Gdansk facility was conceived as a deepwater container terminal and consequently is equipped with three post-Panamax container gantry cranes, from the very beginning, ro-ro operations were part of the overall business plan. Consequently, a 40m wide ro-ro ramp was provided at the landward end of the 650m long quay.

Ease of access to the terminal from the sea and the ample availability of secure parking space immediately attracted the attention of the major car specialists, explained DCT Gdansk's General Manager, Fred Kamperman:

"We have held talks with most of the principal players and we are delighted that all of our hard work is now coming to fruition. The maiden call of Asian Emperor brought 2007 to a very satisfactory conclusion while the arrival of Maersk Teal was a great start to 2008."

Mr Kamperman reported that the master of Asian Emperor was highly complimentary regarding the terminal and its supporting marine services including pilotage and towage:

"He found the marine approaches to the port very straightforward - DCT Gdansk is non-tidal and ice free, with a channel depth of 16.5m - and he felt that both our staff and the local agents managed the call very efficiently, resulting in a smooth and fast turnround."

DCT Gdansk is optimistic about its chances of landing more car carrier traffic and is also drawing the attention of motor manufacturers and their suppliers to the development of a major logistics area adjacent to the marine terminal.

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Note to editors:

A photograph to accompany this press release is available to download from the Dunelm Public Relations website at http://www.dunelmpr.co.uk/DCT-Photogallery-NEW.htm.

The caption for the photo reads:

"On 26 December 2007, the new DCT Gdansk container terminal handled its first car carrier, the 55,729grt Asian Emperor. Part of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) fleet, she discharged over 1700 Mitsubishi motor vehicles manufactured in Asia."

For more information about DCT Gdansk please visit www.dctgdansk.com