Brittany Ferries launch Cork - Santander route

[PaddyL]

Going to be interesting to see in operation
, LD Lines Rosslare Spain service was plagued by bad weather cancellations even with a day in Rosslare scheduled in for delays.

The day in Rosslare wasn't so much for delays as it made for the most commercially appealing schedule.

Aside from the particularly awful weather in early 2014, the problem was more (a) sending a lightly loaded ship across Biscay in severe weather wasn't a good idea and as always freight was very light to begin and (b) if the ship got to Rosslare and got trapped by bad weather the ship would miss the busy Saturday night sailing from France to Spain and even busier Sunday afternoon Spain to France sailing so caution was exercised for overall commercial good of the operation.

[awaityourreply]

Brittany Ferries have since indicated that it's new Cork to Santander, Spain service has now gone on sale via their reservations team based in Cork. Those interested may obtain further details by calling 021-427 7801. The sailing schedule times for it's Cork to Santander, Spain and Cork to Roscoff, France routes have also been outlined.

Further info via below web link:

http://www.brittanyferries.ie/ferry-routes/new-direct-ireland-spain-route

   

[awaityourreply]

According to "Cucumber1" a registered user on Boards.ie online forum, Brittany Ferries apparently intends to open Online bookings as from 15th February for it's new Cork-Santander route which is due to commence sailings at the end of April this year. Until then, those interested can also call the reservations team at Brittany Ferries in Cork at Tel: 021-427 7801

http://www.brittanyferries.ie/ferry-routes/new-direct-ireland-spain-route

[giftgrub]

A revised version on the BF Economie livery for the Connemara on this link

http://bfenthusiasts.com/bfe/topic/11636-cork-to-santander-route-to-launch-in-2018/?page=12

Also interesting views on the new service on Boards

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057830820&page=8

Going to be interesting to see how they manage expectations of a Visentini  30 + hrs at sea for the Friday night crossing to Spain.

Normally avoid these conversations but have already had to explain to some muggles that if they find four hours on Isle of Inishmore boring, then 34 hours on the Connemara will be in a different league - buy a good book and read it was my advice !

(friday night sailing will be longer due to unsocial arrival time if they don't throttle back, would rather arrive at 8am Sunday than 1am and at least have some sleep)

[Matt73]

A revised version on the BF Economie livery for the Connemara on this link

http://bfenthusiasts.com/bfe/topic/11636-cork-to-santander-route-to-launch-in-2018/?page=12

Also interesting views on the new service on Boards

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057830820&page=8

Going to be interesting to see how they manage expectations of a Visentini  30 + hrs at sea for the Friday night crossing to Spain.

Normally avoid these conversations but have already had to explain to some muggles that if they find four hours on Isle of Inishmore boring, then 34 hours on the Connemara will be in a different league - buy a good book and read it was my advice !

(friday night sailing will be longer due to unsocial arrival time if they don't throttle back, would rather arrive at 8am Sunday than 1am and at least have some sleep)

I'm going on the Innishmore for the first time in June.  Your advice is noted!  As for 30 hours, having done the Pont Aven to Santander there was a bit more to do there, but a book was helpful then! 

Matt

[awaityourreply]

According to a recent article published in the Evening Echo (Cork), there has been huge interest particularly from the haulage industry in the new Cork to Santander service from Brittany Ferries due to commence from this April. 

Further details via the below web link: 

http://www.eveningecho.ie/businessnews/New-Cork-to-Spain-ferry-link-will-be-a-game-changer-2dad75ef-53e4-4540-acef-68ad6d249a3b-ds

[ccs]

Port of Cork seem upbeat about the potential of this service. From yesterdays Evening Echo

New Cork to Spain ferry link will be a 'game changer'
Gráinne McGuinness

THE newly-announced ferry route between Cork and Spain is attracting major interest from the tourism and haulage industry and is set to become a "game changer" for the fishing sector. Port of Cork Commercial Manager Michael McCarthy said they have been blown away by the reaction to the route.

"We have had huge feedback already from the haulage industry, both for hauliers heading south and hauliers coming back
"We've been in discussion with the whole fishing industry because they have the potential to be one of the base cargoes from Ireland into Spain." The planned route, from Cork to Santander in northern Spain, will begin in April, operated by Brittany Ferries.
Mr McCarthy said the route could offer a massive saving in both time and effort for trawlers whose catch was destined for the continent. "Spanish and French trawlers predominantly land across the west coast of Ireland and their route to market currently is through Rosslare, Fishguard and Holyhead," he said. "They travel to the southern UK ports and then either across the Channel and drive down through France or pick up a ferry from the south of the UK into Spain." These fishermen see the obvious benefit of being able to go from the south of Ireland directly to the Spanish coast.

"This will save them anywhere from 1000-1200 km per trip. When the haulage industry do their calculations they look at potentially €1 per km travel so you can see the type of savings."  Diners and restaurants in France and Spain could also benefit from getting fresher produce.

"That is just travel costs, obviously there would be a major time saving too, it could easily take a day or two days off each trip, so the fish will be getting to market a lot fresher," Mr McCarthy said.

"Then couple it with our environmental obligations under the Paris Agreement and the recent announcements by Government on our emissions up to 2020 - this also has the potential to substantially reduce emissions." The route has also piqued the interest of the tourism industry in both countries, so much so that the Port of Cork has been contacted by the Spanish Embassy with a view to their ambassador promoting the route.

News of the new route received a warm welcome when it was announced in January. The service will operate twice-weekly from the end of April.

http://www.eveningecho.ie/businessnews/New-Cork-to-Spain-ferry-link-will-be-a-game-changer-2dad75ef-53e4-4540-acef-68ad6d249a3b-ds

[NathanBrady]

30 hours on basically epsilon ha ha.  People complain about less than 4 hours on it

[IFPete]

Thats no joke , its basically Epsilon with French Cuisine.

[giftgrub]

Quite a few ads around Cork for the service now, all clearly state "No Frills". Going to be interesting to see how the service works and what the rivals will do.

Apparently quite a few trailers being carried on the Rosslare Spain service every weekend, so there is a bigger market than most originally thought, saw Neptune Aegli (I think) in Rosslare on Sunday morning but it was too cold to hang around and see what was being loaded.

[Steven]

Quite a few ads around Cork for the service now, all clearly state "No Frills". Going to be interesting to see how the service works and what the rivals will do.

Apparently quite a few trailers being carried on the Rosslare Spain service every weekend, so there is a bigger market than most originally thought, saw Neptune Aegli (I think) in Rosslare on Sunday morning but it was too cold to hang around and see what was being loaded.

I know Perennial Freight have a contract with the Rosslare service.  It might take a while for freight to trickle down in any case due to existing contracts and arrangements.  They'll certainly hope they don't get the perfect storm of a harsh winter and technical problems LD Lines did as hauliers need reliability!  At least BAI is an operator with the scale to sustain the route while traffic (hopefully) builds up.

The unions are still causing trouble over the crewing btw.

[giftgrub]

The future Connemara will finish service on April 8th with Anek and has three weeks to get from the Med to Santander, have a refit and repaint, given the tight schedule the scope for any major works are limited.


Here is a link to video of the future BF vessel in its current livery.

https://youtu.be/iE5-3hBsdUI

[ccs]

Quite a few ads around Cork for the service now, all clearly state "No Frills". Going to be interesting to see how the service works and what the rivals will do.

Apparently quite a few trailers being carried on the Rosslare Spain service every weekend, so there is a bigger market than most originally thought, saw Neptune Aegli (I think) in Rosslare on Sunday morning but it was too cold to hang around and see what was being loaded.

Called into the BF office in Cork a few weeks back and was told that there has been a lot of interest in the new route. Staff in there have been emphasising  that it is a no frills service and not  the regular BF level service.   

[giftgrub]

Quite a few ads around Cork for the service now, all clearly state "No Frills". Going to be interesting to see how the service works and what the rivals will do.

Apparently quite a few trailers being carried on the Rosslare Spain service every weekend, so there is a bigger market than most originally thought, saw Neptune Aegli (I think) in Rosslare on Sunday morning but it was too cold to hang around and see what was being loaded.

Called into the BF office in Cork a few weeks back and was told that there has been a lot of interest in the new route. Staff in there have been emphasising  that it is a no frills service and the regular BF level service.

Going to be interesting to see how route works and survives the winter, also there will surely be a few callers to a certain Cork local radio show, giving out about lack of facilities, restaurants, deck space, hence lots of No Frills branding.

Looking forward to seeing some life in Ringaskiddy again (aside from Summer Saturdays) during the week.

[Steven]

Quite a few ads around Cork for the service now, all clearly state "No Frills". Going to be interesting to see how the service works and what the rivals will do.

Apparently quite a few trailers being carried on the Rosslare Spain service every weekend, so there is a bigger market than most originally thought, saw Neptune Aegli (I think) in Rosslare on Sunday morning but it was too cold to hang around and see what was being loaded.

Called into the BF office in Cork a few weeks back and was told that there has been a lot of interest in the new route. Staff in there have been emphasising  that it is a no frills service and the regular BF level service.

Going to be interesting to see how route works and survives the winter, also there will surely be a few callers to a certain Cork local radio show, giving out about lack of facilities, restaurants, deck space, hence lots of No Frills branding.

Looking forward to seeing some life in Ringaskiddy again (aside from Summer Saturdays) during the week.

To be honest a Visentini doesn't have a bad amount of outside deck space, especially compared to some modern "with frills" vessels!