A regular Ro-Ro line to Sweden starts operating in the port of Riga
From June 1, the line operator “Scandic Line” will start regular Ro-Ro cargo transportation between the ports of Riga and Södertälje, providing a new logistics route from Riga to Scandinavia for transporting diverse types of cargo, according to the press release of Freeport of Riga. Viesturs Zeps, Chairman of the Freeport of Riga Board: “In order for the Port of Riga to develop in various segments, it is necessary to increase the volume of transported cargo, including the development of new logistics chains and new modes of transportation. The port of Riga is one of the few ports in the region where there is no permanent Ro-Ro ferry line, so it is vitally important to provide entrepreneurs with a new logistics route, which will enable the port to increase cargo volumes and attract new customers.”
The “Scandic Line” will continue to provide cargo transportation, including all types of Ro-Ro cargo - mobile cranes, caravans, campers, agricultural machinery, tractors, other vehicles, as well as tow trucks and trailers, all types of self-propelled and non-motorized machinery, mafi cargo trailers, project cargo, as well as all types of containers. The new line will also provide for the transportation of oversized and / or heavy cargo, which is not always possible with Ro-Pax ferries serving lines in other ports of Latvia and neighboring countries.
The 108.5 meter long and 17-meter-wide freight ferry MIDAS is expected to run three times a week from / to Riga Central Terminal (RCT) to / from Sweden in each direction, initially serving local customers, but in the future it is planned to attract transit cargo from China and Central Asia, providing line traffic with two daily ferries.
“There is intensive construction in Sweden at the moment involving many Latvian and Baltic manufacturing companies. The geographical location of the ports of Riga and Södertälje is advantageous for transportation of those companies’ products," said Zigmunds Jankovskis, Head of the line operator “Scandic Line.”
“Until now, the companies were forced to transport the products of the production facilities and logistics centers located in the Riga region to approximately 200-300 km distant ports in Lithuania or Ventspils, from where they could be further transported by sea to Sweden. The new sea connection from Riga will facilitate planning process of those transport and logistics companies (including helping to solve the acute problem of driver shortages), reduce logistics costs, relieve Latvian roads of many heavy loads, as well as reduce harmful emissions,” explained Zigmunds Jankovskis.
“With the change in logistics chains, it is now especially important to create new, stable cargo supply routes and strengthen the positions of Riga and Latvia in global cargo transport flows. We consider Scandinavia to be a promising market. After the shutdown of the Tallink Ro-Pax line, this segment has remained vacant in the port of Riga, so it is gratifying to re-establish a direct connection with Sweden. The Ro-Ro segment is important for us, and we hope to expect another Ro-Ro line in Riga soon to connect to one of the Central European ports,” emphasized Ansis Zeltins, the Freeport of Riga CEO.
Today at the Riga Central Terminal in the Port of Riga, a ceremonial opening of the new ferry line with the participation of Zigmunds Jankovskis, Head of “Scandic Line”, Erik Laidvee, Chairman of the “Scandic Stream Group” Board, Kalle Konsap, Member of the “Scandic Stream Group” Council, Daniel Berglind, Head of “Svecon Freight”, the line agent in Sweden, Dan Mikkola, Head of “Godby Shipping”, Viesturs Zeps, Chairman of the Freeport of Riga Board, and Ansis Zeltins, the Freeport of Riga CEO, as well as Rolands Gulbis, Chairman of the Board of Riga Central Terminal (RCT), was held.
