Rosslare, Ireland: Brittany Ferries has a new weekly freight service linking Le Havre (Normandy) with Rosslare (Ireland).
The route will be served by Cotentin, Brittany Ferries’ freight-only vessel and will start on 12 November.
The schedule will see Cotentin leaving Le Havre on Friday evening, arriving in Rosslare on Saturday afternoon. The return leg will depart Rosslare on Saturday evening, arriving in Le Havre on Sunday at 15:00.
The move follows a 76% increase in the first eight months of the year in demand for direct freight links connecting Ireland with France.
“Thanks to flexibility in our fleet and agility in our operations, we have been able to move quickly to meet growing demand,” said Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries chief executive officer. “Brexit has delivered more headaches than opportunities, particularly on routes serving the UK and France. However, the so-called Brexit by-pass, where freight operations avoid the UK completely, is one area that has worked to our advantage.”
Cotentin has space for 120 freight units with 120 cabins and amenities for drivers. This new line will complement the Cherbourg – Rosslare route, operated by Brittany Ferries with the Connemara since the beginning of 2020.
Jean-Marc Roué, president, Brittany Ferries said: This new route between Le Havre and Rosslare is an important step. The biggest French port should have its own freight link to Ireland.
“Economically, it’s obvious. In almost a year, the number of freight vehicles transported by sea from Ireland has tripled. I have no doubt that the imposition of control measures on the UK-Ireland land-bridge at the beginning of 2022 will further strengthen this appetite for the sea alternative, and that this Le Havre/Rosslare route has a bright future.
“But it’s is also strategically essential for our company: we must be present wherever there’s a real potential for growth as part of our return to competitivity. Our experience sailing to Ireland, both from Cherbourg and from Brittany, is compelling enough for us to embark on this adventure, creating a new route between our two countries.”
Surging demand on services linking Ireland with France, mirrors a sharp rise in freight carried between Ireland and Spain. The company is regularly carrying more than 1,000 freight units a month on its seaborne route connecting Rosslare with Bilbao. In the first eight months of the year, demand rose 70% compared with 2020 figures.
Ferry lanes linking Ireland with Spain were opened for the first time by Brittany Ferries in 2018. The Rosslare-Bilbao route has since become an important artery for hauliers and logistics operators.
The Rosslare Bilbao service operates twice weekly in each direction, with sailings from Rosslare on Wednesdays and Fridays, and from Bilbao on Thursdays and Sunday.
