Extra freight sailings to start
Two new temporary freight sailings will begin this weekend from Cork in response to demands from Irish and French hauliers seeking a more direct route.
Brittany Ferries announced this week that it is introducing three new weekly freight only sailings between Ireland and France. Two will be from Cork to Roscoff and one between Rosslare and St Malo.
The first of two new sailings out of Cork to Roscoff will begin this Saturday. These sailings are in addition to the current Brittany Ferries sailings out of Cork and Rosslare to both France and Spain.
Normally most lorries travelling between Ireland and France transit via the UK, using ferry services across the Irish Sea and English Channel. However, since new post-Brexit trade rules were introduced on 1 January increasing numbers of Irish and continental hauliers have been deterred from using this so called ‘landbridge’ due to increased customs checks and paperwork.
Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Cork said: “Importers and exporters now have further transport options to get their freight direct to the EU and bypass the UK landbridge. This announcement comes in the same month as we announced a second freight service from Cork to Zeebrugge.
“These direct freight services from Cork to the EU strengthen the region by offering more flexibility to Irish customers, ensuring supply chains are maintained. Our relationship with Brittany Ferries spans over 40 years and it continues to go from strength to strength. We wish them every success with this freight service.”
These new freight only routes will operate until the end of March, when scheduled freight and passenger services will resume between Cork and Roscoff. With two weekly sailings in each direction, frequency has been doubled for 2021. Hugh Bruton, General Manager, Brittany Ferries Ireland, commented: “It’s clear that Brexit has distorted flows of trade between France and Ireland, there’s now clear and compelling demand both in Brittany and beyond to boost freight capacity direct from the region to Ireland. And Irish traders too are seeking direct links to western France. We’re always listening to our haulier customers in order to best meet their needs and we look forward to restarting Brittany-Ireland services two months earlier than planned.”
Speaking following the announcement, Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO said: “It is hugely welcome to see Brittany Ferries introduce their first freight-only services from the Port of Cork to Roscoff from this coming Saturday. This direct route from Cork to mainland EU is a key strategic connection for the region that highlights the growing importance of the redevelopment of the port infrastructure at Ringaskiddy. With Government support for border and customs inspection infrastructure at the port, there is huge potential for this growth trajectory to continue apace.”