Starting this month, shipping operator WEC Lines is launching a direct service connecting Agadir in Morocco with the Port of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.
This initiative provides a fast and environmentally friendly alternative for importers of fresh produce, eliminating the need for overland trucking.
“There’s a gap in the market here for wholesalers and supermarkets that want a choice for how they get fresh produce to the UK because now they’ve only one option. We’re getting strong indications that there’s a demand for an alternative that reduces carbon emission, and cost, and takes virtually the same amount of time,” stated Roger Megann, managing director of WEC Lines.
According to a statement, the service will use WEC’s existing fleet of vessels, operating around 850 to 1,000 TEUs. Some of these vessels are already used to ship UK refrigerated goods to tourists and ex-pat residents in the Canary Islands. They will now extend their route via Agadir before returning to the UK, with the potential for reefers to load in Spain and Portugal in addition to the dry cargoes.
In support of this new service, WEC is set to acquire approximately 50 additional refrigerated units, with further expansion of the fleet expected in the next phase.