BG Freight Line vessel arrives at Greenock on weekly Rotterdam service
BG Freight Line’s BG Emerald has called at Scotland’s Port of Greenock as part of the reinstated weekly container shipping connection with Rotterdam, providing Scottish exporters with regular access to one of Europe’s principal maritime gateways.
The vessel’s arrival was confirmed by Peel Ports Group, which operates both BG Freight Line and the Port of Greenock. The service is designed to connect Scottish exporters with Rotterdam’s wider network of international shipping services, including businesses transporting whisky and other food and drink products.
The weekly connection was previously announced by Peel Ports in September 2026. The latest development marks a reported first arrival under the renewed service arrangements, rather than the announcement of an additional shipping route.
Operations will be supported by the BG Emerald and BG Jade, two container vessels with capacities of 1,002 TEU each, which will alternate on the weekly Greenock calls.
Regular container connection for Scottish exporters
Peel Ports expects the reinstated service to support exporters seeking more predictable access to international markets, particularly smaller whisky distillers and bottlers facing cost and trading pressures.
Jamie Strain, Clydeport Port Director at Peel Ports Group, said the regular connection would provide Scottish exporters with greater certainty when planning shipments through Rotterdam.
The company identified transport costs, capacity, reliability and access to overseas customers as recurring challenges during an export industry roundtable held earlier in 2026.
By providing a weekly container connection from Greenock, the service offers exporters an alternative to moving shipments by road to ports elsewhere in the United Kingdom before onward international transport.
The Port of Greenock handles approximately 100,000 TEU annually. Peel Ports has also invested £25 million in two new 72-metre ship-to-shore cranes to support container handling capacity and the port’s international trade activities.
The weekly service forms part of BG Freight Line’s short-sea container network, connecting Scottish trade with Rotterdam and its onward shipping connections.
