A new scheduled transatlantic shipping connection between Aberdeen and the Gulf of Mexico will deliver its first cargo of oilfield equipment to the north-east port this weekend.
The service, via Antwerp, follows an agreement between sea transport firm Chipolbrok America and the Houston office of Rulewave, a partner of Aberdeen-based shipping agent Euroline Shipping Company.
Monthly sailings by Chipolbrok from various ports in the Gulf of Mexico will transport cargo via Rulewave’s long-established North Sea service to Aberdeen.
The Rulewave vessel Merle will arrive in Aberdeen tomorrow to deliver equipment for use by the offshore oil and gas industry in the North Sea.
Euroline Shipping managing director Mike Packer said: “This is the only service providing a regular connection between the Gulf of Mexico and Aberdeen and gives the oil industry here deliveries to and from its doorstep.
“It’s also a green route, with environmental benefits and significant savings on hundreds of road miles each time on oil-related cargoes . . . shipped through ports in England.
“The introduction follows Chipolbrok’s success in generating increasing cargo for Aberdeen and we are confident that the traffic will grow further.”
Aberdeen Harbour Board chief executive Colin Parker said: “While the port has ad-hoc shipping links with North America, the regular schedule makes this new service particularly welcome and we encourage freight forwarders, the oil industry and others to take full advantage.”
Rulewave is an international shipping and forwarding group which has its headquarters in Rotterdam.