A new DFDS freight ferry route between Rosslare and Dunkirk in January will facilitate trade between Ireland and other European Union member states without having to transit the UK.
Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS, said: “We are extremely pleased to offer Irish and other European businesses a cost- efficient way of trading directly with each other.
“There will be no customs formalities or possible waiting times that the Brexit transition potentially may bring about for trucks passing through the UK.”
The six weekly departures in each direction from January 2 will offer truck drivers direct and paperless transport to Dunkirk in Northern France, a gateway to Ireland’s top export markets: France, Belgium, Germany and Netherlands – and other secondary markets.
Additional capacity has been chartered in order to deploy three combined freight and passenger ferries on the route to carry drivers along with their trucks and trailers. The new route thus offers “a cost-efficient alternative to driving through the UK,” said a DFDS spokesperson.
The route will initially not target passengers, although a passenger offering may be marketed at a later stage.
DFDS said that the deployment of three ferries ensures a “competitive frequency” with departures per week. Each ferry has a capacity of up to 125 trucks and their drivers in Covid-19 safe single cabins. The crossing time is 24 hours.
Upon arrival in Dunkirk or Rosslare, fully rested truck drivers will be able to reach many major destinations within the legal driving limit.
The route is expected to reach revenues above DKr300m in 2022. The route is jointly owned by DFDS and “Irish interests”.
The managing director will be Aidan Coffey. The new route will be operated from offices in Rosslare, Cork, and Dunkirk.
