Ellerman City Liners has enhanced its iPEX 2 shortsea service with the introduction of a dedicated Szczecin–Hull–Szczecin rotation, reinforcing direct maritime connectivity between Poland and the United Kingdom.
As part of this update, Hull has replaced Teesport as the UK discharge and loading port on the iPEX 2 route; Teesport is now served exclusively via Ellerman’s BALTEX service, launched earlier this year. The adjustment responds to sustained market demand for efficient, schedule-reliable access to major UK distribution centres.
Commencing 9 May, the revised service will operate two weekly sailings from Szczecin, with the first vessel scheduled to arrive in Hull on 14 May. In addition to direct UK coverage, iPEX 2 offers rapid transshipment connections to Portugal—facilitating seamless cargo integration across broader European trade corridors.
Hull’s strategic location provides proximity to key inland logistics hubs across Northern England and the Midlands, including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster, Nottingham, and Birmingham. Ellerman estimates that the new port call reduces average inland transport distances by up to 18%, lowers end-to-end logistics costs, and improves delivery lead times for both UK importers and Polish exporters.
Peter Andrews, Head of Shortsea Services, noted that the shift enhances accessibility to principal UK distribution corridors and strengthens planning certainty for shippers. This enhancement complements Ellerman’s existing weekly Viasea service at Immingham—integrated following the acquisition of the Norwegian shortsea operator in November 2025.
Iain Barnett, Commercial Manager at Associated British Ports, welcomed the expansion, highlighting its contribution to increased frequency, improved network resilience, and strengthened connectivity for users of the Humber ports. Notably, the iPEX 2 service operates exclusively through non-congested ports and terminals to ensure consistent schedule adherence and stable weekly capacity.
Furthermore, comparative lifecycle analysis indicates that this shortsea route delivers over 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions per TEU-km relative to equivalent road-haul alternatives.
Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/nqot54m-RDNDgHiuB9LcjQ