The London Medway unaccompanied freight service, operated by DFDS, has witnessed a 65 per cent surge in daily unit volumes since it was launched in July 2021.
The service, running between Sheerness (UK) and Calais (France), has transported more than 50,000 trailers on vessels at the port.
The partnership was introduced in August 2021 amid congestion issues and delays at the Port of Dover.
In August last year, Peel Ports Group reported a 34 per cent surge in units over one fortnight as Dover experienced operational issues.
Unaccompanied freight services, which involve shipping trailers and containers without a driver, are viewed by some in the industry as a viable solution to the challenges associated with customs delays, driver shortages, and storage.
READ: Port of Dover: an overview on ongoing challenges and future goals
“We’re hugely proud at how well the DFDS service has performed since it was launched over 18 months ago,” said Richard Goffin, Port Director at London Medway.
“Reaching the 50,000 units milestone for the route feels like a real landmark moment for everyone involved in the service.
“The rise in daily unit volumes over that time has also proven what we have long argued – that there is a real need for a viable alternative route for the UK’s supply chain given ongoing congestion around Dover and the shift in demand for increased unaccompanied services.”
In other UK news, industrial action within the Port of Liverpool ended in November of last year as Peel Ports Group and Unite the Union agreed on a bargain deal.
Workers at the port were on a months-long dispute over pay amid rising cost of living and inflation, which led to escalating strike action since the beginning of September.
