Beginning in October, Tailwind Shipping Lines will expand its Dolphin Express Service (DEX) into an intra-European short-sea route with additional port calls. The service, which currently runs between Moerdijk and Barcelona, will add Antwerp (Belgium), Setúbal (Portugal), Cádiz (Spain), and Casablanca (Morocco) to its 21-day rotation. The weekly service will continue to return directly to Moerdijk from Barcelona.
Three 1,380-TEU vessels from Tailwind’s fleet — Panda 003, Panda 004, and Panda 005 — will be deployed on the route. Panda 003, recently on subcharter, will return to service with the expanded DEX.
Tailwind said the expansion aims to improve efficiency and sustainability in European logistics. “Thanks to the higher cargo capacity of modern ships, sea transport has the advantage of lower CO₂ emissions per container transported compared to transport by conventional diesel trucks,” said Nico Peters, VP Commercial Management at Tailwind Shipping Lines.
The updated route will strengthen connections across Western Europe and North Africa while supporting Lidl and third-party customers. Moerdijk will continue to serve as a hub with barge links to Duisburg via WEC Lines, A2B, and Danser Group, while the new Casablanca call will create a faster link from Morocco to China. Transshipment in Barcelona will also connect to the Panda Express Service to East Asia.
Tailwind confirmed that its Panda Express Service (China–Mediterranean) and Tiger Express Service (Bangladesh–Malaysia–Vietnam–Sri Lanka) will maintain their current schedules.
