New extra Stena Line Cherbourg Sailings

New extra Stena Line Cherbourg sailings make Rosslare Ireland’s leading port connecting industry to Europe

_{Up to 30 direct services to and from Rosslare to the Continent weekly in 2021}

Rosslare Europort General Manager Glenn Carr has warmly welcomed the latest new business for Rosslare, with the announcement by Stena Line today of an additional vessel on the Rosslare Europort to Cherbourg route and the doubling of weekly sailings.  This will bring Stena Line frequency on the route from three to six times weekly each way direct services from January 2021.

This follows the announcement just two weeks ago by DFDS of a new six times weekly each way direct service between Rosslare and Dunkirk, and means Rosslare Europort will be Ireland’s leading port connecting Irish industry to Europe, with up to 15 sailings each way weekly in 2021.

The newly enhanced Stena Line service, announced today, will see Stena Line add an additional freight-only vessel to its Rosslare to Cherbourg route from 4th January 2021. The Stena Foreteller will join the Stena Horizon which already operates on the route, doubling the freight capacity as well as the frequency of Stena Line sailings between Ireland and the Continent. 

The Rosslare to Cherbourg service is an increasingly important freight link between Ireland and Europe. Stena Foreteller will provide an additional 3,000 lane metres of freight capacity per trip and can accommodate a mix of accompanied and unaccompanied traffic with onboard facilities for up to 12 freight drivers.

The new service will give Irish industry a vital post-Brexit connection, with congestion-free access to Rosslare Europort, and landbridge-free access to the continent of Europe, cementing Rosslare’s status as Ireland’s Gateway to Europe.

Glenn Carr, General Manager, Rosslare Europort said “We warmly welcome Stena Line’s decision to double its Rosslare to Cherbourg services from the beginning of 2021.  It reflects the strength of the partnership between Rosslare Europort and Stena Line in providing shipping solutions to Irish industry.  The commitment of Stena Line reinforces our ambitious commitments to continue the development of port facilities, infrastructure and technology under the Strategic Plan and Masterplan for the port.  Rosslare Europort is now firmly Ireland’s Gateway to Europe and a central strategic link connecting the country and the European continent.”

Carr continued “as well as a partnership with our shipping line customers – Stena Line, DFDS and Brittany Ferries – on the fifteen direct services each way to the Continent in 2021, the role of the port is to partner with Irish industry, for whom this is a hugely exciting development.  In the context of Brexit, our new business announcements have illustrated the work we have done with the haulage industry, representative bodies, shipping operators and ports in Europe to identify strong offerings for the sector, and ensure that Irish business has Brexit-proof options for trade.”

“We continue to be supported in our ambitious plans by the Department of Transport, including Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister Hildegarde Naughton and their officials , as well as Wexford County Council, its Chief Executive Tom Enright and his team, and all our local elected representatives.”

Iarnród Éireann - Port Authority for Rosslare Europort - has recently secured planning permission for a major transformation of Rosslare Europort, as part of its Port Masterplan.  The Masterplan, together with initiatives under the strategic plan for the port, will see over €30 million invested by Iarnród Éireann in Rosslare Europort over the next five years. It will ensure that Rosslare will be equipped with the capacity, facilities and technology to facilitate major growth for the benefit of the region and the wider national economy.

Major changes in the Europort will be:

• New configuration of the port aligned to maximise future growth of the port and support regional and national development 
• Significant new facilities and infrastructure to develop Rosslare Europort to its full potential as Ireland's gateway port to the UK and Europe
• Design and develop a Sustainable, Seamless and Smart Port that will be best in class internationally

The development under the Masterplan will be completed over a number of phases over a five year timeframe to enable the port continue to operate all services and activity during construction. Rosslare Europort is the closest port to the UK and mainland Europe and offers numerous daily/weekly direct Services to the UK, France and Spain.

As well as the port masterplan, further substantial investment will also take place both at the port and the surrounding area with the following further developments being completed during the same timeframe.

• Construction of the New N25 Rosslare Europort Access Road by TII and Wexford Co Council
• Development of the Rosslare Europort Business Park by the Dutch company XELLZ targeting the future Offshore Wind Market
• Delivery of the existing, and construction of the future permanent extensive facilities to meet all customs and Brexit requirements for state agencies at the Port, making Rosslare the only port outside of Dublin with the required Border Inspection Post.

The combined developments will see the largest ever investment in the port and surrounding area, and will position Rosslare Europort to become the leading gateway for the country to the UK and Europe.