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Ferryport in South Wales Sees Irish Ferries Sign 10-Year Deal with Pembroke Dock

28th February 2021
Irish Ferries throws a lifeline as it signed a 10 year contract to continue using the south Wales ferryport of Pembroke Dock which links Rosslare Harbour. AFLOAT also adds is the operator's Isle of Inishmore, off the jetty of the Pembrokewhire port. In neighbouring Fishguard Harbour (owned by Stena) which also competes with their route also linking with the Wexford port. Irish Ferries throws a lifeline as it signed a 10 year contract to continue using the south Wales ferryport of Pembroke Dock which links Rosslare Harbour. AFLOAT also adds is the operator's Isle of Inishmore, off the jetty of the Pembrokewhire port. In neighbouring Fishguard Harbour (owned by Stena) which also competes with their route also linking with the Wexford port. Credit: Port of Milford Haven-twitter

Ferryport of Pembroke Dock is where fears that the south Wales port could become a casualty of Brexit have proved unfounded, with Irish Ferries signing a 10-year deal with the Port of Milford Haven.

The company has signed the deal with the Port of Milford Haven for the berth at Pembroke Dock, which first came into operation under B&I Line in 1979. (Afloat adds see reference to MV Connacht's maiden sailing of Cork-Swansea before switching the Welsh port to Pembroke)

Since then, the port of Pembroke has seen multimillion pound investments to improve facilities and creating jobs and has become established as an important transport link with Europe.

In recent weeks, Westminster politicians have raised the suggestion that, as a result of Brexit, Pembrokeshire could only support a single port linking the county and the M4 corridor with the Irish Republic.

Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales Eluned Morgan has welcomed the decision, saying it underlines its commitment to the port of Pembroke.

More writes Western Telegraph on this development.

As Afloat reported earlier this month, general manager of Rosslare Europort said Wales should focus on just one ferry port in Pembrokeshire instead of two (Fishguard Harbour) to run alongside the main ferry port of Holyhead. The GM citing this would entice hauliers back to Welsh routes crossing the Irish Sea.

Published in Irish Ferries, Ferry
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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About Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries, owned by the Irish Continental Group, is a a major ferry operator in Ireland, providing daily and weekly links to and from Ireland for tourism and freight travelling between Ireland and the UK and Ireland and the continent. Irish Ferries has a fleet of six ships, three of which service the busy Dublin to Holyhead route.

The ICG Chairman is John B McGuckian and the CEO is Eamon Rothwell.