Helen Deeble, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries, said: "As the British economy continues to grow, we have made this investment because we have confidence that we can provide a one-stop transport solution for continental exporters who want to do business with the hugely important UK market."

"We will be able to offer our customers additional vessel capacity. We'll be able to grow third party handling activities here at the terminal such as rail units headed for the Zeebrugge hinterland. And we will have the capacity to conclude new partnerships such as our existing one with Swedish Orient Line, which links our Zeebrugge hub to Gothenburg, and by extension Gothenburg with the east coast of Britain. Taken together, it adds up to an unrivalled service across sea and land, by road and rail."

Joachim Coens, Chief Executive of Port of Zeebrugge, added: "As a port authority it is our ambition to allow our port clients to keep growing and to create new opportunities for that growth. P&O Ferries is a strong partner in Zeebrugge, so we are very happy that the extended terminal will be a reinforcement of their services. Especially P&O Ferries' focus on creating intermodal business solutions between water and rail, is valuable to the port of Zeebrugge."

© Shippax / Victor Mandersson