The Bristol Port Company is pleased to be celebrating its upcoming 20th anniversary of its collaboration with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and the arrival of the first vessel to call at Bristol Port. 5th May 2004 saw the inaugural call of MSC CRISTINA at Royal Portbury Dock, commencing the Antwerp to Liverpool and Bristol service, which connects the west of the UK directly to one of Europe’s major shipping hubs; marking the beginning of a successful maritime partnership.

As the world's largest container shipping company, MSC operates two feeder services weekly to Royal Portbury Dock, providing crucial connections to global services. Bristol Port is recognised for its comprehensive network, efficient container handling, and its ability to streamline container transport to UK markets.

Dan Everitt, Managing Director at MSC UK, reflected on the fruitful two-decade partnership “Our 20-year collaboration with Bristol Port has been instrumental in delivering world-class services via sea and road from the South-West of the UK. As the partnership continues to thrive, both organisations remain dedicated to driving sustainable growth and solutions for our customers. We are grateful for the commitment and resilience from Bristol Port, and very much look forward to continuing to strengthen our customer offering over many years to come."

Michael Collins, Commercial Director at MSC UK, highlighted the enduring relationship and shared values between MSC and Bristol Port. “This milestone represents a testament to the strong relationship and shared values between MSC and Bristol Port. For two decades, Bristol has opened up a unique gateway for our customers shipping between the West Coast of the UK and 200 global trade routes including Asia and North America, with our most recent service announcement providing a market-leading, direct route between Bristol and the Mediterranean. This latest service is just one example of the dedication and shared commitment with Bristol Port, allowing us to offer our customers increased connectivity, flexibility and reliability when moving their cargo between Bristol and the world.”

James Stangroom, Director of Breakbulk and Containers at Bristol Port, added "20 years of partnership with the World’s largest container line has allowed shippers and receivers in Bristol Port’s hinterland to utilise MSC’s market leading network of services to link the region to all over the globe. The Port operates over 1 million sq ft of warehousing adjacent to the container terminal allowing customers to make use of the two MSC weekly services to offer a green, efficient and cost-effective route to the market and with the M5 motorway just 1 km from the quay wall the onward distribution of goods into the region could not be easier.”