Baltic Sea Bridge with Line China – Europe via Mukran Port

The Baltic Sea Bridge expands its network as part of the new Silk Road with the arrival of the container ship Breb Xian from Ust-Luga near St. Petersburg on February 11, 2022. Containers are transshipped at Mukran Port and distributed further into the European hinterland. This solidifies the port’s role as a central hub for traffic to and from China, the UK, Sweden, and Central Europe.

(PresseBox; Sassnitz/Neu Mukran) On behalf of Bahnoperator GmbH and TransContainer, and in collaboration with Ust-Luga Container Terminal (ULCT, a company of the Global Ports Group) and Ruscon, a new multimodal container service on the route China – Germany has commenced operations. Starting in March, regular container trains carrying Chinese goods will run from Wuhan through Manchuria and Sabaikalsk to Ust-Luga. The transit time through Russian territory is nine days. At Ust-Luga, containers are transferred from the train to the Baltic Sea Bridge ships and brought to Mukran Port. The total transit time is 19 days.

A special feature of the new route is the use of a single bill of lading. This document is issued for the entire journey of the cargo and speeds up container processing at only two borders and two ports. The Baltic Sea Bridge has been utilizing this convenient procedure for its traffic through Mukran Port since 2019.

Long-standing connections from Sassnitz-Mukran to Russia

In light of rapidly increasing volumes and a potential further reduction in transit times, there is an opportunity to leverage the long-standing logistics connection between Russia and Sassnitz-Mukran to ensure a fast and seamless East-West connection: by rail from China to the Russian Baltic ports and from there by ship across the Baltic Sea to Mukran Port. From here, goods can then be distributed by rail to the German and European hinterland as well as to the UK and Scandinavia.

“The new container service ideally complements the transport network of Baltic Sea Bridge, which already includes numerous industrial centers in Germany and the Baltic Sea region. We are now connecting additional markets in the Baltic Sea region to China. Once again, Mukran Port can demonstrate its capabilities as a modern multifunctional port and European hub for China traffic,” explains Harm Sievers, Managing Director of Mukran Port Terminals GmbH.

About Baltic Sea Bridge

Baltic Sea Bridge GmbH is a joint venture of Bahnoperator GmbH, Mukran Port Terminals GmbH & Co. KG, EGP Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam, and the shipping company BREB. The goal is to develop the Silk Road corridor through the Mukran port and industrial zone and to accommodate short sea container loads. The Baltic Sea Bridge has direct connections to Baltysk, Ust-Luga, Karlshamn, Gävle, and Hull.

Photo: © Global Ports