Freight and ferry provider DFDS has announced a new freight-only route between Spain and the Netherlands, which will include a weekly aluminium shipment in conjunction with Hydro. 

The route will connect Vilagarcía and Rotterdam with a service carrying lorries and other commercial road transport vehicles. The service will be operated by the DFDS vessel Belgia Seaways with a capacity of 2,660 lanemeters. The service will begin in May. 

“This new route offers significant potential which we believe will benefit the broader market and aligns perfectly with our focus on organic growth,” said Mathieu Girardin, Head of the DFDS Ferry division.

“We are excited to establish a strong partnership with Hydro, enhancing their supply chain with improved connections to and from Northern Europe and Iberia, further demonstrating that we are a relevant strategic partner for larger companies.”  

Energy and aluminium firm Hydro said the agreement formed part of its “solution” to cut emissions related to its European aluminium business. 

“The cooperation with DFDS will contribute to further implementation of our roll on-roll off (RoRo) solution, which is safer and more efficient compared to traditional methods. Smarter shipping saves both money and emissions and ensures our customers get their products on time,” said Gerd Aalborg Aas, vice president and head of logistics in Hydro's aluminium business. 

The RoRo solution rolls aluminium products bound for customers onto cargo ships, eliminating the need for cranes and reducing safety risks from hanging loads. It also increases efficiency by reducing loading time in half, allowing ships to reduce speed and still deliver on time. This results in less fuel consumption and lower emissions, the companies explained.