New Brittany Ferries Route launching - Rosslare to Bilbao

Started by awaityourreply, January 29, 2020, 01:50:34 PM

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awaityourreply

Major Cork ferry route cancelled

The Brittany Ferries Cork to Santander route has been replaced by a route from Rosslare to Bilbao, as the key freight route to Europe.

The company has said the change is in response to demand from Irish and continental hauliers.

The first sailing is due to take place on February 28.

Brittany Ferries have, however, confirmed their ongoing commitment to the Cork to Roscoff route, which will continue to be a primary tourism route.

The decision comes following detailed discussions between the company and the Ports of Cork and Rosslare.

"This was not a decision we took lightly and follows extensive consultation with our freight customers who sought better road connections and reduced driving distances," Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries CEO, said.

"We opened the route in 2018 with a two-year trial window. While passenger numbers have been encouraging, the reality is that freight numbers, which are key to route viability, were not sufficiently robust.

"However I want to make it clear that we remain committed to Cork, with our flagship Pont-Aven cruise-ferry service to Roscoff. We're also committed to an Ireland-Spain route, now via Rosslare, and we'll look after existing passengers whose future travel will be affected by this change," he added.

Customers already booked on affected sailings from Cork will be given the option to transfer their booking to sailing between Rosslare and Bilbao/Roscoff and an allowance will be given to cover additional transfers.

Alternatively, a full refund will be provided to those who choose to cancel.

The Cork-Santander route which was launched in 2018 was primarily aimed at the freight market into Europe although it also carried holidaymakers. The new route out of Rosslare will be similar.

Brittany Ferries have said that Rosslare is a preferred option among hauliers, with its proximity to Dublin and the east coast road network. Hauliers operating on the European mainland have said that Bilbao is more attuned to freight traffic and has easier transport links into Europe.

Courtesy of: IrishExaminer.com and EchoLive.ie

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/brittany-ferries-moves-ireland-to-spain-departure-port-from-cork-to-rosslare-978456.html

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Major-Cork-ferry-route-cancelled-4055dc59-d23f-404a-bc04-3cc3ab6f0f0b-ds

awaityourreply


Brittany Ferries announces new services to Spain and France from Rosslare

French shipping group to operate service from Rosslare to Bilbao from next month

Brittany Ferries has announced two new routes from Rosslare to Bilbao in Spain and Roscoff in France. The French-owned shipping group said it will operate a twice weekly service to Bilbao from February 28th.

It will also operate a weekly Rosslare to Roscoff service during the peak season from March to October.

"The arrival of Brittany Ferries means that Rosslare Europort will now offer business up to seven weekly sailings in each direction between Ireland and mainland Europe, cementing the port's status as Ireland's Gateway to Europe," it said.

Full article published in The Irish Times.

Source:
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/brittany-ferries-announces-new-services-to-spain-and-france-from-rosslare-1.4155053

Cladyman


awaityourreply

Yes, except the Mid-Week Roscoff trip will now be ex-Rosslare following the changes due to be introduced as from 28th February onwards.

I think the Brittany Ferries website does not reflect all changes as of yet having read the press release issued today.

Meanwhile, the existing Cork Roscoff service will resume on Saturday 21st of March 2020 on the "Pont Aven" from Ringaskiddy Ferryport in Co. Cork.

awaityourreply


Rosslare Europort Welcomes Brittany Ferries' New Bilbao & Roscoff Services

Rosslare Europort has welcomed the announcement by Brittany Ferries that it is to launch its new Rosslare Europort to Bilbao twice-weekly service from 28th February 2020. In addition, the French-owned shipping line will also operate a weekly Rosslare to Roscoff service during the peak season (March to October).

Earlier on Wednesday 29th January, Port of Cork responded to the decision by Brittany Ferries to depart Cork Harbour ending a link from Ireland's second city to Santander in Spain.

The arrival of Brittany Ferries means that Rosslare Europort will now offer business up to seven weekly sailings in each direction between Ireland and mainland Europe, cementing the port's status as Ireland's Gateway to Europe.

Brittany Ferries will be Rosslare Europort's fourth major shipping line customer, and along with Stena Lines, Irish Ferries and Neptune Line, offers both freight and passenger customers a comprehensive range of connections to both mainland Europe and Britain.

Full article via below link

Source:
https://afloat.ie/port-news/item/45240-rosslare-europort-welcomes-brittany-ferries-new-bilbao-roscoff-services

awaityourreply


"Brittany Ferries Kerry Sets Sail From Rosslare Europort Bound for Bilbao, Spain"
Brittany Ferries ropax ferry Kerry which completed a repositioning voyage to Rosslare Europort earlier today has since departed having embarked on an inaugural direct sailing to Bilbao in northern Spain.

* First Rosslare to Bilbao sailing today, Friday, 28th February
* First French rotation (to Roscoff) next month on Monday, 23rd March
* Move welcomed by Irish and Spanish hauliers

The new route out of Rosslare in Co. Wexford according to Brittany Ferries has been welcomed by hauliers given the port's proximity to Dublin and the east coast road network. Equally hauliers operating on the European mainland have welcomed the move to Bilbao, a port more attuned to freight traffic with easier transport links into the Iberian Peninsula.

While primarily aimed at the freight market into Europe, the route will also carry holidaymakers to both Spain and France (noting new route also to Roscoff). It will be part of Brittany Ferries 'économie' service, offering a comfortable, no-frills voyage. Sailings will be twice-weekly and will incorporate a weekly Ireland/France rotation.

Speaking at the launch of the new route to Spain, Brittany Ferries Group Freight Director, Simon Wagstaff: "I am delighted to be here for the first Brittany Ferries sailing from Rosslare. Since we opened operations linking Ireland and Spain in 2018 we have listened carefully to feedback from freight customers, on what is predominantly a route for commercial traffic. The clear message was that a move to Rosslare would help them and us deliver a more attractive option to the UK landbridge. We now operate from two ports in Ireland, reinforcing our commitment to the country, its people and its economy."

Glenn Carr, General Manager, Rosslare Europort added: "We are delighted to welcome Brittany Ferries' Kerry to Rosslare Europort today. We look forward to working with Brittany Ferries to building a successful partnership to serve freight and passenger customers. The decision to introduce this service not only shows the appeal of Rosslare Europort to shipping lines, freight and tourism customers, but also is the first of what we intend to be a number of new business announcements, building on our €25 million investment plans in port facilities, infrastructure and technology".

Carr added "Rosslare Europort is Ireland's closest port to mainland Europe, and is now the only port outside of Dublin with a Border Inspection Post facility, and will provide the quickest direct services for exports and imports to both Europe and the UK post-Brexit".

The new Rosslare to Bilbao route will open for passenger bookings online in early March but customers can now book through the Brittany Ferries reservations team by phone on 021 427 7801. Our Freight Reservations team can be contacted on +44 (0)330 159 5000.

This article originally published in Afloat.ie on 28th February, 2020

awaityourreply


New Rosslare to Bilbao ferry service sets sail
according to Conor Kane
RTÉ News South East Correspondent

The first sailing of the new Brittany Ferries route between the southeast of Ireland and Spain is under way having launched from Rosslare Europort today.

The twice-weekly service goes from Rosslare to Bilbao and replaces the Cork-Santander route which started in 2018 but has been cancelled by Brittany Ferries.

It will be followed next month by a new Rosslare to Roscoff (France) route which will run once weekly, return, until autumn.

The services are being offered on Brittany Ferries' "no-frills" ship, Kerry, and will leave Rosslare for Bilbao every Monday and Friday night, returning from Bilbao on Sundays and Thursdays at 12 noon until late March, when it will change from Fridays and Wednesdays and Sundays and Thursdays.

The Rosslare-Roscoff service will start at the end of March and depart Rosslare on Monday nights, returning on Tuesday evenings.


Management from Rosslare Europort and Brittany Ferries get a tour of the ship's bridge
Up to 70,000 extra people could end up passing through the port this year as a result, according to management.

"It's an absolutely great day here in Rosslare Port," general manager of the Europort, Glenn Carr said.

"It's a new connection, it's a new route for the freight industry and for the passenger industry. It's one of our key objectives here in the port in terms of growing the port and in terms of connectivity."

The new route offers another option for the freight companies into the continent, particularly in light of Brexit, he said, but will also offer another way both into and out of the south-east of the country for tourists.

"We've been talking to a number of shipping lines about the potential for Rosslare, we see Rosslare as a gateway to Europe and to the UK," said Mr Carr.

"Brittany Ferries conducted their own market research and their customers told them that they needed a service like this into Europe. There's definitely a demand for services like this for Rosslare Europort."

There are also negotiations with other ports across Europe with a view to offering new routes to places like Zeebrugge and Le Havre, he said.


The ferry departed Rosslare this morning
Brittany Ferries freight director Simon Wagstaff said Rosslare offers "geographical advantages" for the company.

"It's close to the Dublin principal freight markets and clearly there's some very, very good road connections between Dublin and Rosslare so that gives us a real boost, potentially.

"At the other end, at Bilbao, Bilbao is a freight hub already today and we believe the new route will have a lot of advantages and will help us develop over the year," said Mr Wagstaff.

He said that while the Cork-Santander route, which is closing, "was not unsuccessful, it just didn't get up to the sort of numbers that we'd been hoping for. We hope that by moving here we just get that extra boost that will allow the route to remain viable for the long term".

Mr Wagstaff said the freight industry had been "pressing us" to make the switch, with any of the transport companies having bases in the Wexford area.

"Rosslare is already a hub for services to France and to the UK and so it makes a lot more sense for them to be able to move their trailers backwards and forwards into Rosslare and out of Rosslare and just is a general help in terms of their logistics."

This article published on RTÉ News Online on Friday 28th February, 2020 13:50hrs