Bruges ferry will still sail from the city

THE Pride of Bruges ferry will continue docking in the city after its final journey between Hull and Zeebrugge.

P&O confirmed earlier this month it was ending its longestablished passenger and freight service to and from the Belgian port today.

The Pride of York, one of the company’s two ferries on the route, sailed from Hull for the last time on December 9 when it headed for Rotterdam after being laid up in Hull since April.

Since then, the Pride of Bruges has continued to carry freight across the North Sea between Hull and Zeebrugge in tandem with the freight vessel Elisabeth.

Now it has been revealed the Pride of Bruges will temporarily switch to operating on P&O’S Hull to Rotterdam service from January 5 to 25.

The move will allow the Pride of Hull ferry to undergo routine dry dock servicing.

Meanwhile, port operator Associated British Ports say it does not expect any delays when the post-brexit transition period ends this weekend.

The Government recently announced that customs and environmental health checks on imports from the European Union will not be required until next summer in an attempt to avoid potential congestion at UK ports.

Ministers hope the delay will allow more time for hauliers and freight forwarding firms get used to new computerised documentation systems being introduced after more than three decades of frictionless trade between the UK and Europe.

However, checks on paperwork covering UK goods arriving in Europe are expected to start from next week.