European shortsea car carrier United European Car Carriershas launched new services to cater for increasing growth in the finished vehicle trades.

The line, has added another string to its Baltic network with the launch of a new service between Bremerhaven, St Petersburg and the Swedish port ofWalhamm using the 2,350 lane metres car carrier Vinni.

The vessel is capable of operating the loop faster than the service's 10-day schedule, but extra days have been added into the service so that it can cater for growing transshipment volumes in the Baltic and call at inducement ports.

The service will complement UECC's weekly Baltic service, which also calls at Southampton, Zeebruggeand ports in Sweden, Poland and Finland, as well as Bremerhaven and St Petersburg.

Yesterday the line also launched a new shuttle service between the Spanish Atlantic port of Pasajes and Hamburg, using the 1,220 lane metres Autopride, and offering ports on inducement on the southbound leg.

"This service will provide additional vessel capacity for car manufacturers exporting vehicles from northern Spain to Germany," the company said.

On Thursday it will launch a west Mediterranean liner service operated by the 1,220 lane metres Autoprogress. It will link Gioia Tauro, Fos and the Spanish port of Vigo with Djen Djen in Algeria, Casablanca and Sagunto in Spain.

    Lloyd's List 16/11/2010