P&O Ferries has completed a major expansion of its North Sea freight operations, adding capacity on the Tilbury–Europoort and Zeebrugge–Tilbury routes to meet rising customer demand.
The enhancements, introduced ahead of schedule at the end of September, follow a successful first phase earlier this year that increased freight capacity between the UK and mainland Europe by up to 60 per cent.
Building on the March 2025 capacity boost, P&O Ferries has implemented further improvements to the Tilbury–Europoort service, supported by two dedicated vessels, Norsky and Norstream. The upgrades include:
- Increased capacity, allowing up to 20 more freight units per sailing, thanks to expanded port turnaround times.
- Optimised sailing schedules with evening departures from both ports to ensure reliability and faster cargo handling.
- Earlier terminal access, with the Europoort terminal now opening at 07:00 am local time to support early deliveries and collections.
These enhancements aim to strengthen service reliability and reduce delays for freight customers using one of the busiest UK–Netherlands trade corridors.
The company is also expanding weekly sailings between Zeebrugge and Tilbury from 18 to 20 departures, providing greater flexibility and scalability to align with customer growth. The additional sailings are expected to enhance operational planning and deliver smoother logistics coordination for European freight operators.
Andrias Justinussen, Chief Growth Officer at P&O Ferries, commented: “This expansion marks another decisive step in our growth journey. Strong customer demand has clearly shown the need for this service.
“It won’t be our last move in the North Sea — we’ll keep investing in smarter, scalable freight solutions that anticipate our customers’ evolving needs. By boosting capacity, optimising schedules, and improving terminal access, we’re not just moving goods — we’re helping European businesses grow and compete.”
P&O’s move comes as spot freight rates fell across major trade lanes on 2 October 2025, according to Xeneta data, reflecting a wider softening in market conditions after September’s volatility.
By expanding capacity against this backdrop, P&O Ferries is positioning its North Sea network to capture long-term trade resilience even as short-term freight dynamics continue to shift.
