A naming ceremony of one of CLdN Ro Ro S.A.’s newest H5 class vessels took place at Liverpool Cruise Port, and this was subsequently followed with a departure from Dublin Port this afternoon, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The event on Merseyside yesterday also marked the short-sea ro-ro operators' longstanding partnership with Peel Ports Group to regenerate dock infrastructure at the northwest of England port.
MV Seraphine is one of 6 H5s that are part of CLdN’s advanced fleet of larger vessels, which, as Afloat reported, was observed departing Dublin Port on Tuesday before its naming ceremony on Merseyside. Its first sailing since seeing Seraphine make an overnight return crossing to the Irish capital this morning, berthing at Ocean Pier. After operations were completed, the ro-ro freighter this mid-afternoon departed to Zeebrugge, Belgium.
The build of 217m in length and 30m in width is designed to carry more cargo (Afloat highlights 5,000 freight lane metres based on 5 decks) while significantly reducing carbon emissions. Cargoes include trailers, containers, tank containers, and refrigerator units, and vehicles can also be loaded using the stern door.
CLdN also celebrated Peel Ports Group’s renovated Brocklebank Dock, strengthening the Port of Liverpool’s position as a key logistics hub.
Joining CLdN’s 30-strong RoRo fleet, which connects mainland Europe with the UK and Ireland through Dublin Port, the MV Seraphine is a dual-fuel vessel capable of running on conventional marine diesel or liquefied natural gas, including biomethane.
The event brought together CLdN and Peel Ports Group employees, customers, business partners, representatives from the UK’s Department for Transport, and local stakeholders to celebrate the naming of the landmark ro-ro freight vessel.
At the ceremony, Florent Maes, CEO at CLdN, said, “We are proud to name the MV Seraphine in Liverpool. The Irish Sea trades are increasingly important connections for CLdN. Our partnership with Peel Ports and our recently completed investment in Brocklebank Dock show a shared commitment to improving our infrastructure and supporting the growth of our operations in Liverpool.”
The redevelopment at Brocklebank Dock, completed earlier this year, delivers 90,000 sqm of new surfacing for 900 trailer bays, new cargo check-in facilities, upgrades to the landing pontoon, and many other improvements.
The enhancements to the quayside are designed to accommodate larger, more environmentally friendly ships, with CLdN currently operating 24 sailings a week between Liverpool and Dublin. As Afloat reported, the service is to be expanded by a further 25%, with larger vessels being deployed between the UK and Ireland.
CLdN has expanded freight services to develop greater connectivity between the UK and Europe, with the introduction of the first pure RoRo service in a triangle trade between Santander, Liverpool, and Dublin that was launched in 2020.
For most of the time the freight is unaccompanied; however, the Seraphine does have the capacity to accommodate 12 guest cabins for truck drivers if required. In addition, there is a gym on board to allow the crew to exercise.
