Neptune Lines has added another pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel to its fleet, the third so far this year. It brings to 19 the number of car carriers the short-sea ro-ro provider has operational in European waters and is helping to provide capacity for OEMs at a time of production volatility and high vessel charter rates
Neptune Lines acquired the latest vessel from Höegh Autoliners and will rename it the Neptune Tharros. The vessel was built in 2011 and is registered in Greece. It has capacity for 4,900 vehicles.
“We are very pleased to welcome Neptune Tharros to our fleet, joining our other recent acquisitions, ensuring we have the capacity needed to serve our customers,” said CEO Craig Jasienski.
Earlier this year Neptune Lines also bought the vessels Neptune Phos and Neptune Kallos, each with a capacity for 3,900 units. Both were built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea.
A spokesperson for the company said the recent acquisitions were part of its plan to enhance trading capabilities in all of the areas in which it operates.
During the first half of the year Neptune moved 600,000 units.
Furthermore, the spokesperson said that with its recent fleet investments Neptune Lines aimed to mitigate the impact of the high charter rates that are currently impacting the maritime industry as much as possible.
“Most of new vessels will be integrated in our current services and will support all our customers at this challenging time,” said the spokesperson. Neptune Lines’ services Renault, Ford and VW, amongst others.
The main challenge for Neptune Lines, as with other finished vehicle forwarders, is to provide capacity where and when its needed in the face of considerable production volatility, which affecting all carmakers.
“We have worked in very close cooperation with all our customers to be proactive and provide the flexibility needed,” said Neptune Lines’ spokesperson. “It has also been an opportunity for us and we succeeded in opening up [new areas of business].”
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