A Stena Line director has hit out at the lack of investment in key routes to Harwich at a time when the company is expanding its freight capacity on services to the Hook of Holland and Rotterdam. The development of Harwich as "the gateway to Europe" is being hindered by the lack of investment in the A12 and A120, says Pim de Lange, area director North Sea for Stena
Line.
"I have talked often with the East of England Development Agency but little has been done. The dualling of the A120 should have been completed years ago," de Lange says. Stena Line is concerned because it is investing £70m in enlarging the two ships that currently serve the route, boosting their freight carrying capacity by 20% to 4,100 lane metres per ship. Both will be converted by May. As part of the enlargement the ships will be refurbished and facilities for drivers improved. Two larger capacity ships are planned for introduction in 2010.
