Brittany Ferries is launching three new weekly freight-only sailings between Ireland and France. They will begin this Thursday (4 February) with a sailing between Rosslare and St Malo.
The first of two from Cork to Roscoff will begin this Saturday. These are in addition to ones offered by Brittany Ferries out of Cork and Rosslare to both France and Spain.
The new sailings are in response to demands from both Irish and French hauliers seeking a more direct route as complex new customs arrangements when travelling from Britain to Ireland continue to create major delays to supplies.
The company said: “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 ‘landbridge’ due to increased customs checks and paperwork.”
Hugh Bruton, general manager of Brittany Ferries Ireland, said: “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.”
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The new Brittany-to-Ireland sailings come in addition to an extra weekly Rosslare to Cherbourg round trip which was introduced in mid-January. This means that from February Brittany Ferries will offer hauliers a choice of eight sailings a week in each direction between Ireland and France.
The company also offers two weekly round trips between Rosslare and Bilbao, northern Spain. Altogether the company will be offering 12 sailings a week linking Ireland with France and Spain.
Conor Mowlds, chief commercial officer at the Port of Cork said: “The decision by Brittany Ferries to operate two freight only services from Cork to St Malo and Roscoff is hugely positive for Cork. Importers and exporters now have further transport options to get their freight direct to the EU and bypass the UK Land-Bridge.
“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.”
Glenn Carr, general manager at Rosslare Europort added: “The continuing commitment of Brittany Ferries to develop new services linking Irish industry to the European continent is once again demonstrated with this new service connecting to St Malo and Roscoff.
“We have worked closely with Brittany Ferries to facilitate this new service, which will give further choice and capacity alongside existing Brittany Ferries services between Rosslare Europort and Bilbao and Cherbourg.”
