Direct Ferries to the Continent must be sailing by January ? IRHA
Eugene Drennan, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has stated that the current efficiency of a Landbridge route to the European Continent cannot now be regarded as a reliable option for Irish hauliers post-Brexit.
In an extensive interview with Pat Kenny on Newstalk radio this week, IRHA President Eugene Drennan said the Government must now provide assistance to put regular direct ferries connecting Ireland with mainland Europe. He informed listeners about the practical problems that will face importers and exporters when Britain leaves the European Union (EU) at the end of December. Brexit will effect importers and exporters on two levels. In the first instance tariffs may be imposed by both the EU and the UK, this may in some cases determine if a company can survive in the new environment. In the second instance the logistics of importing and exporting come into the spotlight.
This is where the IRHA is concerned for their members as hold ups and delays will effect truck movements between Ireland and the UK, creating cost, that someone must bear. Trucks going and coming from mainland Europe will likely become caught up in these delays at ferry ports, in spite of assurances to the contrary. Direct ferries will be necessary if the country, importers and exporters is to be spared significant delays to supply chains.
What are the options? Should the Government set up a ferry company? Subsidise IF, Stena or P and O to run a service?
Regarding shipping I suppose Brittany Ferries has some ships lying idle currently, would any of those be suitable for overnight freight or Ro/Pax service?
One other question, which ports? Dublin seems pretty packed so Rosslare or Cork must be in the frame.....to Cherbourg, Dunkerque?
Interesting times.
I understand from other contributors to this forum that some hauliers would welcome a direct link between Ireland and Le Havre once more. Is there much prospect of any direct Ireland to Le Havre link being re-established in the event of No Deal Brexit becoming a reality after December 31st going forward?
I understand from other contributors to this forum that some hauliers would welcome a direct link between Ireland and Le Havre once more. Is there much prospect of any direct Ireland to Le Havre link being re-established in the event of No Deal Brexit becoming a reality after December 31st going forward?
One of the basic reules of busness is to adapt to supply and demand issues, that's how you gain an edge over your competitiors. BF changed services already at the request of hauliers, if the demand is there, I can't see whay they, Stena or IF wouldn't step in.
I just hope the Irish government and the EU have a satisfactory Plan B at the ready.
A senior Stena crew member hinted to me that there is the ?potential? for Stena to move one of the Dublin Holyhead ships to Rosslare for a direct continental service IF in the event of a no deal brexit departure, demand reduces on the central corridor? Supposing Stena receive 25% of the annual 170000 annual land bridge units transiting through Holyhead, it would mean circa 800 units a week looking to avoid the grid locked UK landbridge. That could potentially support a 2000m+ lane metre ship on a three times a week service? Lot of what if?s and the biggest is obtaining support from the hauliers as it is a more time consuming crossing than is currently available. Un accompanied units are the more likely customers for this potential market, so a large RO Pax ship would not be cost efficient for any potential new route. Also which ever continental port is assessed it would need at least a 100+ trailer park to accommodate this potential traffic.There are 150,000 annual movements and that is for both directions (official figures). Thats of around 450,000 total RoRo movements though Holyhead (the landbridge figure naturally doesn't account for trailers which stop and discharge or load partially in GB en-route of course). Thats not as much as it sounds if we account for the fact that there is existing excess capacity on Ireland-France (some say its running at around 50%), and that not everything will be suitable to transit on the direct routes. Rates are going to be a big factor as well - they'll inevitably be much higher on the direct routes than short sea. Of course, Calais and Portsmouth aren't the only ports used for landbridge via Holyhead either. Dropping a ship on Dublin - Holyhead would massively reduce their capacity there, by at least 6,200 lane metres in each direction per day.
"The company, which began sailing to Dublin in 2009, accounts for 40 per cent of all units moved between Dublin and continental Europe, averaging about 4,500 freight units a week or 116,000 a year each way."
I had a conversation last week with a guy thats involved in the food export market ,and info he has been given is that DFDS are looking at the possibility of starting a daily Ro Ro from Rosslare to Dunkirk.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/new-direct-ferry-to-dunkirk-will-be-valuable-entry-point-for-lorries-to-europe-after-brexit-1.4420716
To complete within 20 hours though would require a steady 25 knots per hour.
This is a huge commitment by DFDS 3 vessels dedicated to a new route some speculation that MV Kerry could be one of the vessels. Have the existing operators being caught napping or were they just not willing to take the gamble? time will tell. A 24 hour crossing as opposed to a 15 or 16 hour crossing through Holyhead/Rosslare to Dover might make sense.Plus the 3 to 3 and a half hours to cross to the UK from Dublin or Rosslare .
If you allow for the mandatory driver breaks ie 45 minutes break after every 4 1/2 hours,the drive from Holyhead to Dover takes approx 9 hours depending on traffic the two ferry crossing times 3/12 and 2 hours and waiting times say an hour at each port come to a travel time of approximately 18 hours then add in the unknown the new customs procedures which I suspect will ad at least a couple more hours.
Further details are expected later today from DFDS.
I recall that Brittany Ferries had also announced in recent months of it's intentions to begin a new Rosslare to Cherbourg service as from 22nd March, 2021 until late October as a seasonal service.
I wonder if today's announcement by DFDS to commence it's new Rosslare to Dunkirk route X 6 days a week starting on 2nd January will impact on Brittany Ferries plans in this regard?
Listening to Verona Murphy Independent TD on "The Tonight Show" with Matt Cooper on Virgin Media One tv tonight, she seemed to suggest that there may be further announcements of Other new services ex-Rosslare to the continent.
I wonder what other options could emerge for Rosslare Europort?
Is there enough standing room, port vehicles, staff etc at Rosslare to cover all this extra capacity? From what I have read they are more than doubling throughput virtually overnight.