New ro-ro generation spurns tidal constraints

摘要

Sustained investment in the group's shortsea ro-ro tleet has been pivotal to the development of Cobelfret's European integrated transport network, with its business mix of general freight and industrial products, including factory-new vehicles and automotive components. Following consecutive series of large multipurpose trailer- and container-carrying ro-ros from Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Cobelfret turned to Japan for a quartet of compact vessels optimised to trade to river berths on the Thames and Orwell at all states of the tide. First-of-class Capucine has made her debut on the Rotterdam-Ipswich route operated by group company CLdN, which offers through services across Europe. The 1,755-lane-metre Capucine thereby became the largest ro-ro assigned to trade through the Suffolk, UK, port, navigating the Orwell in all tidal conditions to a scheduled based on fixed arrival and departure times.