Press Release 04 May 2023

Contargo starts new barge service between Dourges and the western Seaports  

Contargo has started a new container barge line with two round trips per week between the seaports of Antwerp and Rotterdam and the multimodal terminal in Dourges.

Contargo has expanded its network for container transport by inland waterway in northern France. In addition to its barge service in combined transport via the terminal in Valenciennes, Contargo North France is now also offering direct barge connections between Antwerp and Rotterdam and Delta 3, the LDCT terminal in Dourges.

The service, with two round trips a week, is performed by two push barge units with a capacity of 78 TEU. All types of containers are transported, including dangerous goods (apart from classes 1 and 7) and reefers. Contargo will also organise pre- and on-carriage by truck for these transports. The transit time is 30 hours between Antwerp and Dourges and 40 hours for the Rotterdam - Dourges line.

“In order to meet market demand we have decided to expand our network to include the Dourges terminal, where we see great potential for development. This will be in addition to the regular services we have been providing for years now in Valenciennes, the most important terminal in the region for sea containers”, says Gilbert Bredel, Managing Director Contargo North France. “Altogether we operate seven barges with a weekly capacity of more than 1,200 TEU for multimodal container transport in northern France”.

With an annual transport volume of 2.1 million TEU, Contargo is one of the largest container logistics networks in Europe. Contargo integrates container transport between the western seaports, the German North Sea ports and the European hinterland. Contargo has 24 container terminals at its disposal in Germany, France and Switzerland and additional locations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland. The enterprise also operates its own barge and rail lines. In 2022 the workforce of more than 1,200 employees achieved a turnover of 711 million Euro.