POLARIS OSLO

Polaris Autoliners takes over Ford's shuttle service

Ro-roThe Vlissingen – Dagenham (Thames) RoRo connection has been taken over from CLdN by Polaris Autoliners. The 20,209 GT POLARIS OSLO, a 2,000 CEU feeder car carrier built in 2010, equipped with both a normal stern ramp and a quarter ramp and recently purchased by Polaris from GCC, is operating the route alongside the chartered 3,663 lanem Flensburger class RoRo LISTA.

The 29,429 GT, 193 m long LISTA is the largest RoRo ever to have operated into Dagenham. Ford has used the connection for many years, connecting its UK engine and vehicle assembly plants with those based in Germany, Spain, Romania and Turkey. Ford ships all its UK vehicle imports via the route, as well as trailers transporting components between its plants.

The rail-connected 100 ha terminal in Vlissingen belongs to CLdN, but a large part of the terminal area is assigned to Ford traffic. It is equipped with three RoRo berths able to receive the largest size of PCTC. CLdN previously operated the ADELINE, WILHELMINE and CELANDINE on the route, but the vessels will either be redeployed on other CLdN routes or sold.

The 21,020 GT ADELINE and WILHELMINE are compact and economical 2,415 lanem RoRo ships built in Japan by Kyokuyo Shipbuilding in 2012. They are 152 m long by 25.2 m beam and are equipped with a single 7,000 kW 16V32 Wärtsilä main engine, giving a 16-knot service speed. CLdN has used the pair on its routes from Zeebrugge to Santander, but it is now employing much larger vessels on its mainline routes to gain economies of scale. The CELANDINE is one of the Kawasaki class built in 2000.

sep 18 2026