Tailwind Shipping Lines, the maritime arm of retailer Lidl, has expanded its Dolphin Express Service, adding Antwerp to its established route between Moerdijk and Barcelona.
The move, effective mid-October 2025, also introduces new port calls at Setúbal (Portugal), Cádiz (Spain), and Casablanca (Morocco).
The expanded rotation will be handled weekly at ACOT Antwerp Container Terminal (Sea-Invest), deploying three 1,380 TEU vessels.
Tailwind’s ships will carry both in-house cargo and third-party goods, with WEC Lines securing slot capacity to bolster network utilisation.
A Tailwind spokesperson said: “The expansion reflects the growing demand for flexible, low-emission transport solutions across Europe’s shortsea corridors.”
By shifting more cargo from road to sea, the Dolphin Express Service underscores the industry’s accelerating move toward greener logistics chains.
The service connects seamlessly to Moerdijk’s inland waterway network, including direct barge links to Duisburg, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional trucking routes.
From Casablanca, Tailwind enables rapid onward connections to China, while Barcelona serves as a gateway to the Far East through the company’s Panda Express Service.
Together, these routes position Tailwind as an integrated shortsea and deep-sea operator bridging European and global supply chains.
As European ports seek to decarbonise and diversify connectivity, Tailwind’s expansion illustrates how retailer-driven shipping lines are reshaping regional trade flows.
