The Port of Cork welcomed CLdN Ro-Ro SA's ro-ro freight-ferry Melusine make its maiden call today having completed the first commercial sailing on the new route from Zeebrugge, Belgium, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Melusine's arrival at Ringaskiddy ferry terminal this morning marks a significant expansion by CLdN of its freight services between Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. The new route compliments the Luxembourg based operator's existing services from Dublin Port to the same Belgium port in addition to Rotterdam in the neighbouring Netherlands.

The ro-ro Mesuline's weekly sailing schedule between mainland Europe and Munster departs Zeebrugge on Friday's and arrives in Cork on Sunday's.

Tomorrow the freight-ferry has a layover period in Ringaskiddy before resuming sailings with a departure scheduled on Tuesday's and an arrival in Zeebrugge on every Thursday.

A capacity for 630 cars and 157 freight trailers is achievable using the 1999 built vessel's decks spread across the 162.5m long vessel which has a tonnage of 23,987grt.

According to the Port of Cork's Chairman John Mullins the new service 'will reinforce the Port’s commitment to supporting businesses in the region and preparing for any eventuality Brexit may still bring.'

Afloat highlights the new Cork-Zeebrugge freight route is currently the sole ro-ro service using Ringaskiddy as Brittany Ferries announced last month that all passengers sailings be ceased due to Covid-19 and advise from Governments. This forced the ferry operator to temporarily suspend all passenger services between Ireland and France and Spain in addition routes linking the UK with France and Spain.

The suspension has led to the Munster port having no passenger ferry connections with continental Europe. As for connecting the UK, such a service ceased almost a decade ago when Fastnet Line ran a route to Swansea, south Wales. The company however went into examinership leading to sailings stopped in 2011.

As for CLdN Ro Ro origins with Ireland this first involved Rosslare Europort on services to mainland Europe but was abandoned in October 2010 when operations transferred to Dublin. Sailings that same month on the Irish capital-continental Europe route were inaugurated by newbuild Mazarine, an occasion personally observed in Dublin, having reported for Ships Monthly (see: February 2010 issue).

Mazarine is the leadship of six ships from a then new series built by FSG Flensburg. The German shipyard also built Irish Ferries cruiseferry W.B. Yeats in addition Seatruck Ferries quartet of 'Heysham'-max ro-ro freight ships serving on the Irish Sea.

The debut of Mazarine for CldN service firstly took place on the North Sea between Killingholme in the UK and Rotterdam. This was followed by a deployment to ply through the English Channel on the longer Zeebrugge-Dublin route. A second service to the Irish capital was added linking Rotterdam and thus consolidating the company's presence in this marketplace.

In recent years CldN introduced considerably larger tonnage, again custom-built to join Mazarine and some of the same class series out of Dublin. This saw in 2018 Celine dubbed the 'Brexit-buster' arrive on the shipping scene followed by yet another new ro-ro series when leadship Laureline launched into service last year.

A new Port of Cork-mainland Europe service has been warmly welcomed with the announcement by CLdN Ro-Ro SA of a weekly ro-ro freight service between the Irish port and Zeebrugge in Belgium.

The new service, which begins operations this Friday (24 April), is part of a significant expansion by CLdN of its freight services between Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. (Afloat adds CLdN launched the 'Brexit-buster' ship Celine in 2018 followed by Laureline last year on the Dublin Port-Belgium/Netherlands services).

The Ro-Ro service will leave Zeebrugge on every Friday to arrive in Cork on Sunday. The ro-ro freight ship will return on Tuesday arriving in Zeebrugge again on every Thursday.

CEO of Port of Cork, Brendan Keating, said; “This announcement by CLdN will greatly support our efforts in the Port of Cork to keep supply chains moving during the current Covid-19 pandemic. The Port has been actively looking at ways to bolster its freight activity and is delighted to partner with a company that enjoys such a great reputation in the shipping industry. Introducing this new connectivity to Zeebrugge not only helps Port of Cork to protect supply chains during the current crisis, but also adds a direct freight-only link with the heart of Europe.”

Port of Cork Chairman, John Mullins, said; “This is a very exciting development for both the Port of Cork and CLdN. In these unprecedented times this direct freight link with Europe from Ireland’s primary southern gateway will reinforce the Port’s commitment to supporting businesses in the region and preparing for any eventuality Brexit may still bring.”

The Port of Cork has implemented a contingency plan to ensure freight operations continue as normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Port is a key facilitator of trade in the Munster region, and vital deliveries will continue to several sectors in the weeks ahead.