CLdN which acquired Seatruck Ferries last year following approval by the Irish competition authority, has confirmed to Afloat that it has chartered a Swedish flagged ro-ro freighter onto their Ireland-Spain route, writes Jehan Ashmore

Compagnie Luxembourgouise de Navigation which merged with Seatruck (from previous owner, the Danish based Clipper Group) saw CLdN charter the Tundraland from Wallenius Sol S.A. of Gothenburg.

Afloat looked into the background of the Tundraland of 23,128 gross tonnage, which is the third of a trio of T-class ro-ro freighters custom built for Wallenius Sol in 2007 from Aker Yards OY, Rauma. The same Finnish shipyard that built ICG’s cruiseferry, Ulysses for their passenger division Irish Ferries to operate on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

The Tundraland was tracked by Afloat having departed Dublin Port yesterday afternoon when bound for Santander, Spain. The chartered vessel was later observed in poor visibility before heading south, however the ro-ro vessel then went to overnight off Bray Head where it remains today.

As for Tundraland joining the Ireland-Spain routes Maxine which can carry up to 165 unaccompanied freight units. This ship on occasions runs from Santander to Zeebrugge where Tundraland for CLdN made a first round-trip from Dublin Port which took place last month.

Further research by Afloat reveals that the Belgium port is also served by Wallenius Sol which specialises in the transportation of forest/paper products from Scandinavia and to other ports in Europe as further detailed below.

As reported in January, CLdN doubled sailings frequency to expand capacity between Santander and Dublin Port and onward to the UK market and vice-versa. This involves cargo transhipped through the capital port via Seatruck’s Irish Sea shuttle service to Liverpool.

CLdN which also operates Dublin-Rotterdam and an extensive route network throughout Europe, has chartered other vessels on its Irish routes. Among them was the Italian flagged Maria Grazia Onorato, which sports a rather colourful and flashy livery scheme.

Tundraland along with T-class fleetmates Tavastland and Thuleland, are primarily designed for transporting forestry paper products for Wallenius Sol’s sustainable logistics operations in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea.

Also involved is this trade are the more modern ‘Enablers’ twins which Afloat will have a report.

From these seas of Scandinavia, the fleet operate regular scheduled services between ports in northern Finland and Sweden, Germany, the Benelux region and the UK.

Two years ago in March, Wallenius Sol expanded one of its services, by offering the added Finnish port of call to Kokkola (see separate 'Corrib' story) on the north and southbound route of Antwerp-Zeebrugge-Tilbury.

Before entering the Ireland-Iberian service, the Maxine was chartered by CLdN to serve DFDS new Calais-Sheerness (Peel Ports Group) route linking the south east of the UK and northern France.