US gateway opens at Bristol Port

Bristol Port welcomed a new shipping service to the USA from Royal Portbury Dock.

Capable of carrying more than 7,000 vehicles, Theben will take British-built Jaguars, Land Rovers, Minis and heavy construction plant to the east and west coasts of the USA.

David Brown, Chief Executive Officer, at The Bristol Port Company said “We are the nearest major UK Port to the USA and this is the first ship of a weekly service that reflects the booming car export business at Bristol Port. Last year the Port handled nearly 200,000 vehicles for export and a 20% increase is predicted this year.”

The Theben is owned by the Scandinavian Shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen and is one of a new generation of ships to take advantage of the widened Panama Canal.