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Today a new ferry service was launched linking Rosslare Europort to Dunkirk in north-eastern France and the first ship to make the crossing is fully booked.
The DFDS route is aimed at trucking companies and truck drivers who previously used the UK land bridge to reach the continent, but now want to avoid Brexit-related delays, including customs checks and more paperwork.
The first DFDS ship to make the crossing from Rosslare to Dunkirk, one of France’s largest ports, departed at 2:00 PM this afternoon.
Tom Bermingham, driver for DG McArdle International, prepares to board the DFDS ferry before it departs on its maiden voyage from Rosslare to Dunkirk @rtenews pic.twitter.com/eWUHAnKlzt
– Conor Kane (@ ConorKane0909) January 2, 2021
While it will take almost 24 hours to reach their destination, taking drivers directly to Dunkirk reduces bureaucracy and the need for rest periods, which would otherwise have been taken when crossing Britain.
It will also be attractive for carriers who need to travel to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, as Dunkirk is close to the Belgian border.
“It’s probably something that should have been done a long time ago, but Brexit has driven it,” said Darren Mooney of DFDS in Rosslare today.
“They start their week in Dunkirk instead of Holyhead or Pembroke, and the same thing comes back, so they save two days and get more productivity from their trucks … It’s coming up to the right speed too. This is the opening opens the gate for Ireland to enter Europe at an ever faster pace. “
The first ship carries nearly 100 trucks and trailers to Dunkirk, with a similar number aboard Rosslare’s upcoming DFDS service later today.
The new DFDS services, coupled with the expanded Stena Line services, mean that there will eventually be 15 crossings from Rosslare to the mainland each week, and 15 return trips, representing nearly tripling the number of routes available to drivers from Europort.
“Today is a tremendous day,” said Glenn Carr, manager of Rosslare Europort. “We have three departures to continental Europe, two of which are new DFDS services going to the port of Dunkerque, and the third with Stena Line, which is one of the additional departures leaving today.
“Overall today, we will move more cargo on this day alone through the port of Rosslare to mainland Europe than during the entire week one of 2020.”
He said that bookings on all ships heading to Europe in the coming days and weeks are promising. “I think we are seeing real change now, away from the land bridge, avoiding the hassle and paperwork and going directly from Rosslare to mainland Europe.”
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