The Port of Ramsgate welcomed its first car transporter ship
today (Tuesday 19 January) marking the start of a new port operation by
transport and logistics company GEFCO UK Ltd.
The Autopremier arrived in Ramsgate at 05:45 transporting
1000 cars from Zeebrugge, Belgium using one of the Port’s existing Ro-Ro (roll
on roll off) berths.
GEFCO import and distribute 500,000 vehicles annually
through UK ports for several major vehicle manufacturers.
Under a licence which has been granted by Port owners,
Thanet District Council, GEFCO have commenced a new operation to import and
store cars at the Port of Ramsgate prior to onward distribution around the UK.
Ramsgate Harbour has a history of car importation going right
back to the 1960s which was continued when the port was constructed in the
early 1980s.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise Services,
Cllr Hunter Stummer-Schmertzing, said: “It’s fantastic to see another business
operating out of the Port of Ramsgate. This new operation uses the Port’s
existing infrastructure and a portion of the freight and car lanes, all of
which are ready to accommodate this new business, without compromising
additional new ferry opportunities. This is a great message that the Port of
Ramsgate is open and ready to do business and that the industry is recognising
the potential opportunities that our facilities have to offer.”
GEFCO is pleased to be working with the Port of Ramsgate to
add more flexibility in import solutions available to its customers.
The above was the council's press release and photo, on of their best and most usable and below how Ramsgate car imports were done in the 60s
Anyone able to identify the car?
Sounds like a very positive development.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the car in the photo -an Austin perhaps?
If the car was an Austin does that mean that Ramsgate was used to export cars in the 60's?
DeleteI think it's just a ferry from before the roll on/roll off days - not export.
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DeleteEcho Dave. Having had a proper look at the picture I think the car is a Hillman Minx Californian made 1953 to 56, the other cars in the picture look to be 1950s so I guess the picture dates from around then. The Dover to Calais drive on ferries started in 1953 so perhaps the cars to and from Ramsgate went somewhere else, a long time ago now and I doubt anyone knows the answer anymore.
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