Specialist softwood carcassing importer Rowlinson Timber Ltd is chartering ice-class ships on the open market in order to ensure continuous supplies of Baltic and Russian timber .

The company carries large UK landed stocks and is committed to nationwide delivery within 24/48 hours. To maintain this level of service it is chartering its own specialist vessels for loading at St Petersburg, Tallinn and Riga which are still affected by serious ice problems after one of the worst winters the region has known for years.

“We are determined to ensure that we continue to supply customers, and in the current conditions that has meant chartering on the open market,'” said managing director John Bate. “As a result we have a number of vessels either loading or underway, so that we can keep our stocks topped up at a time of extremely high demand.”

Finding vessels of the right class and capacity is a complex and time-consuming task, and Rowlinson Timber has recently appointed a new member of staff with extensive experience of the shipping market to manage the operation.

&#8220We have a number of vessels either loading or underway, so that we can keep our stocks topped up at a time of extremely high demand.”

Rowlinson Timber Ltd managing director John Bate.

“Our procurement arm, Baltic Connexions, ensures that timber from mills in the Baltic States and Russia reaches the consolidation depots at the ports,”said Mr Bate. “It’s essential that we keep the ships coming in.”

Rowlinson has achieved “record sales and volumes discharged” in recent months. “And there is no sign of the market slackening,” said the company