Polaris Autoliners has expanded its fleet by acquiring two feeder-sized car carriers from Global Car Carriers. The vessels, previously known as Viking Oslo and Viking Odessa, have been renamed Polaris Oslo and Polaris Star following the transaction. Industry sources estimate the combined purchase price for these two ships at around $44 million.
This acquisition is part of Polaris Autoliners' strategy to increase its shortsea capacity, which is crucial for regional distribution and connecting smaller ports. The addition of these 2,000 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) vessels will allow the company to better serve its clients in the automotive logistics sector.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this expansion signifies a potential increase in available capacity for shortsea roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) services, particularly for automotive cargo. This could lead to more flexible scheduling and potentially more competitive rates on specific regional routes where these feeder vessels operate, improving options for just-in-time inventory management for car manufacturers and distributors.
