Ministers Ryan and Lawless and the Department of Transport have welcomed the announcement from Irish Ferries and the Port of Milford Haven in Wales that there will be an additional daily sailing service between Pembroke and Dublin for passenger cars and accompanied freight.
As Afloat reported earlier, from 7 January 2025, the Irish Ferries vessel Isle of Innisfree will operate on the 'new' temporary route from Wales in addition to the James Joyce, which currently sails between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare twice a day.
This development is a testament to the agility and responsiveness of stakeholders in the freight, supply chain, ports, and maritime sectors. They have worked collaboratively and continuously alongside the Department and the Government to facilitate alternative arrangements for services curtailed by the closure of Holyhead Port, after damage during Storm Darragh.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “This is good news for both passengers and freight carriers travelling between Ireland and the UK. I would like to thank the Port of Milford Haven, the Welsh and UK Governments, Irish Ferries and all stakeholders for working together to secure alternative routes between our two countries while we wait to hear further about the situation at Holyhead. It has been a real team effort on both sides of the Irish Sea.”
Minister of State James Lawless said: “Hauliers, logistics companies, the freight industry, port workers and many others all played their part in ensuring it was a Happy Christmas for everyone this year by pulling together to avoid a potential crisis. I would like to pay tribute to all of them and assure them that we truly appreciate their hard work and great efforts. It is great news that the latest alternative route has now been secured. But we in the Department and at government level will continue to work with the industry partners around the clock to ensure we passage through this difficult time safely.”
