A vessel renamed to reflect a regular port of call has made her ‘maiden voyage’.
The Humber Runner has been welcomed by Port of Goole, sailing under time-charter to TTS (Shipping) Ltd, bringing a timber consignment.
Owned by Navalis Shipping, who recently acquired TTS, it brought with it the retirement of director Dougie Bryce.
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TTS operates long established timber lines from the Baltic Sea into the ports of Goole, Hull and Immingham.
Newly purchased by Navalis, Humber Runner is an ice-class 1A vessel suitable when sailing from the Latvian capital of Riga in the Baltic in wintertime, with the draft to navigate the channels in the Humber Estuary.
Simon Bird, Humber regional director for Associated British Ports, said: “We are delighted to welcome Humber Runner. It is great Navalis has recognised the lack of smaller ice-class ships in today’s marketplace to support the regular line to the Humber.
“Dougie Bryce, the retiring director of TTS Shipping will be sorely missed by everyone when he eventually retires, and we wish him a long and happy retirement.”
Navalis Shipping and TTS Shipping have traded together successfully for more than 20 years before the acquisition in December 2021. Both companies specialise in the forest product trade in the North and Baltic Sea.
Mr Bryce said: “This commitment by Navalis ensures the long-term future of this line and the continuity of the business, not just for TTS but also for ABP, our stevedores Global Shipping Services Ltd and most importantly for our Goole clients.”
Humber Runner, built in 2010, is a 95m general cargo vessel, with a width of 13.5m. She has a cargo-carrying capacity of 4,114 tonnes.
Simon Tom Worden, managing director of Navalis Shipping, added: “Together with TTS Shipping, we see a long future for the timber trade in the Humber and therefore invested in this new ship. We look forward to many successful voyages.”
The four-day crossing takes her through the Baltic, through the Kiel Canal in northern Germany and across the North Sea to the Humber.
Peter Waud, managing director of Global Shipping Services Ltd, added: “The acquisition of the MV Humber Runner is great news and allows regular shipments to continue into Goole to and from the Baltic.”
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