Ellerman City Liners Marks Five Years of European Shortsea Shipping
Ellerman City Liners has strengthened its European short sea service portfolio with the introduction of iBEX 1 (Bilbao to North Europe Express), a dedicated weekly service designed to support increasing supply chain demands between Spain, the Netherlands and UK. The new service provides direct connections between Bilbao, Rotterdam and Tilbury, creating a reliable multimodal solution for importers and exporters seeking greater flexibility, connectivity and sustainability across their supply chains.
As supply chains continue to evolve, businesses are seeking transport solutions that provide dependable transit times, reduced road dependency and lower carbon emissions. iBEX 1 has been developed to address these requirements through a combination of short sea shipping and integrated rail connectivity. The service operates on a weekly rotation of Bilbao → Rotterdam → Tilbury → Bilbao, with complementary rail links between Bilbao and Tarragona, extending inland connectivity and supporting efficient cargo movement across key European markets.
Supporting More Resilient European Supply Chains
Designed to offer a practical and sustainable alternative for European freight movements, iBEX 1 delivers a range of operational benefits for customers moving cargo between Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and beyond.
Service features include:
- Reliable weekly sailings
- Direct service connections between Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK
- Transhipment options to Poland, Norway & the Baltics
- Availability of all equipment types to accommodate diverse cargo requirements
- Comprehensive rail network connectivity
- A customer-focused service supported by experienced local teams
- The opportunity to reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 50% when compared with road transport alternatives, with further reductions available through HVO solutions via the Port of Tilbury
The service has been specifically designed to meet the needs of customers seeking a balance of reliability, flexibility and environmental responsibility. By combining maritime and rail transport options, iBEX 1 helps businesses streamline their supply chains whilst supporting broader sustainability objectives.
Strategic Connectivity Across Europe
The addition of Rotterdam and Tilbury to the service rotation provides customers with direct access to two of Northern Europe’s most important logistics hubs. Combined with Bilbao’s strategic position in northern Spain and the rail connection to Tarragona, iBEX 1 offers enhanced opportunities for cargo distribution across multiple markets while reducing reliance on long-haul road transport.
This multimodal approach enables businesses to benefit from reliable port-to-port services, improved network reach and greater supply chain resilience, all supported by Ellerman City Liners’ commitment to customer service excellence.
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Whether moving cargo between the UK, Spain and Northern Europe or looking for ways to reduce road miles and improve supply chain efficiency, iBEX 1 provides a dependable solution backed by local expertise and dedicated customer support.
For service enquiries, contact the Ellerman City Liners Commercial Team:
𝗨𝗞: UK_sales@ellermanlines.com
𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱: PL_sales@ellermanlines.com
𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻: ES_sales@ellermanlines.com
𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹: PT_sales@ellermanlines.com
𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮: LV_sales@ellermanlines.com
𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: NL_Sales@ellermanlines.com
𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮: LT_Sales@ellermanlines.com
