An additional load-on/ load -off (lo-lo) containership MV Music has been announced by Irish Continental Group (ICG) to serve their container division EUCON, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Music starts the new career this Friday, 1 January 2021, by operating a weekly schedule between Ireland and mainland Europe, further boosting capacity in the New Year which is also to see roll-on/ roll-off (ro-ro) operators launch new freight ferry services in bypassing a Brexit UK.

Introduction of the 803TEU Music will increase EUCON's capacity by 17% on services connecting Belfast, Dublin and Cork with Anterp, Belgium and Rotterdam in The Netherlands. 

When Music enters service on New Year's Day, the Portuguese flagged vessel will bring the fleet, Afloat.ie counts to 11 chartered lo-lo vessels.

The extra containership allows EUCON in 2021 to offer the market the most comprehensive sailing schedule to date with capacity upswings right across the operators range of services and ports of call.

Currently the Music, Afloat also adds is at Antwerp anchorage having made a repositioning voyage from Thessaloniki in Greece.