Published 2 hours ago •
Updated 2 hours ago
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For decades, the route through the U.K. has been a vital and reliable artery for getting goods from Ireland to mainland Europe.
But with the end of the Brexit transition period on Dec. 31, trucks from the Republic of Ireland (which is still an EU member) traveling via the U.K. and entering the mainland through ports like Calais now face a great deal of paperwork and red tape.
DUBLIN As the EU adjusts to its new relationship with the U.K. after Brexit, fewer freight trucks are making the trek across the Irish Sea.
Rosslare Europort s growth to the gateway to Europe continued this week, as ferry operator DFDS confirmed the addition of a fourth vessel on its route to Dunkirk in France. Remarkably, it brings to 17 the number of direct services departing Rosslare for the continent each week. Or, to look at it another way, 36 direct services will now be moving between Rosslare and continental Europe each week, factoring in the return.
Starting on April 1, freight ferry Ark Dania will join three other DFDS ferries on the route, with a capacity for 188 truck units (made up of up to 12 driver-accompanied units and 176 trailers).
Updated / Thursday, 4 Mar 2021
08:20
The Ark Dania will have a capacity of 188 units, made up of 12 driver-accompanied trucks and 176 trailers
Another freight ferry will be added to the services between Rosslare Europort and France from 1 April.
DFDS, who introduced a new Rosslare-Dunkirk route on 2 January and has seen a high level of bookings for its ships from truck drivers and transport companies, will be introducing a fourth ferry to the route.
The Ark Dania will have a capacity of 188 units, made up of 12 driver-accompanied trucks and 176 trailers.
The addition will mean Rosslare has 36 ferry sailings in total to the continent every week from April.
Marine Industry
Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.
All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, ro-pax , where the vessel s primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.
After Brexit, Ireland and France cut out the middleman: Britain
From his office overlooking Cherbourg docks, general manager Yannick Millet points to trailers destined for Ireland that belong to Amazon and FedEx, new customers and a signal of a potential big shift in post-Brexit trade.
Confronted by red tape and delays after Britain’s messy exit from the European Union, Irish traders are shipping goods directly to and from European ports, shunning the once-speedier route through Britain.
“You see the shift in supply chains right here,” he said.
All five operators connecting Ireland to mainland Europe have increased ferry services in the past nine months, with some bringing forward planned sailings and others moving larger ships away from quieter British routes to meet new demand.