The German logistics group Mosolf has announced that it is to expand it car shipping operation at the Port of Ostend. Mosolf has been storing cars made by the Korean manufacturer KGM since the start of the year. A first ship that will transport the vehicles to their final destination will arrive at Ostend next week.
The port authority at Ostend port describes the move as an important milestone in Ostend’s development as a multimodal logistics centre. It says that the expansion of Mosolf’s operation strengthens the German logistics company’s European network and supports Ostend’s ambition to attract high-quality industrial and logistics activities.
Mosolf already has operations at the Port of Antwerp and the Port of Zeebrugge. However, the port authorities stress that the new activity in Ostend will not directly compete with other Flemish ports. Ostend will focus on short sea shipping, using smaller vessels to transport cars to Scandinavia, the Baltic countries and the Mediterranean. Both road and rail will be used to transport the cars to and from the port.
The Port of Ostend can currently handle up to 3,000 vehicles and is exploring options to expand capacity further. Previously, Ostend handled car shipments for Toyota, but this agreement has since ended.
The arrival of Mosolf is also expected to provide a boost to local employment. However, no figures have yet been given for the number of jobs that will be created.