P&O Ferries has completed a significant upgrade of its North Sea freight network, increasing capacity on the Tilbury–Europoort and Zeebrugge–Tilbury services to keep pace with growing customer volumes.
The latest improvements, delivered earlier than planned at the end of September, build on a successful expansion carried out in early 2025 that raised freight capacity between the UK and mainland Europe by up to 60 per cent.
As part of this next development phase, the company has enhanced operations on the Tilbury–Europoort route, deploying its vessels Norsky and Norstream to support the increased service levels. The upgrades include:
- Greater capacity, with space for approximately 20 additional freight units per sailing following improved turnaround efficiency at both ports.
- Revised sailing schedules, offering evening departures to improve reliability and cargo handling times.
- Extended terminal hours, as the Europoort facility now opens at 07:00 am local time to enable earlier collections and deliveries.
The enhancements are designed to boost reliability and reduce transit delays on one of the busiest shipping corridors linking the UK and the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, P&O Ferries has also increased the number of weekly Zeebrugge–Tilbury sailings from 18 to 20. The additional rotations will provide customers with more flexible scheduling options and better alignment with their logistics requirements.
According to Andrias Justinussen, Chief Growth Officer at P&O Ferries, the expansion reflects the company’s long-term commitment to growth and customer-led innovation: “This development represents another important step forward for our North Sea operations.”
“The sustained demand we’ve seen clearly validates our decision to expand. We’ll continue to invest in efficient, scalable freight solutions that help our customers thrive. With more capacity, optimised timetables, and improved access, we’re doing more than transporting goods — we’re enabling trade.”
The move follows a decline in spot freight rates across major routes on 2 October 2025, as reported by Xeneta, signalling a broader easing in market conditions after a volatile September.
By expanding at a time of softer market trends, P&O Ferries is positioning its North Sea operations to support long-term trade resilience and ensure readiness for future demand cycles.
