Short-sea shipping operator CLdN RoRo S.A. has announced a 25% freight capacity increase on its Liverpool – Dublin service, a key trade route between the UK and Ireland and part of the company's large northwestern Europe network, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The increase by Compagnie Luxembourgouise de Navigation (CLdN) will be achieved through the deployment of larger vessels based on 4-deck ConRo vessels with a capacity of 3,700 lane metres. They will have a higher cargo capacity than those currently serving the central Irish Sea route that Afloat highlighted comprise the FSG twins, Precision and Progress (previously with Seatruck, which CLdN acquired in 2022) and yet still retain their old owners' blue branded hulls. They were joined by CLdN's own tonnage in the form of Catherine (as above, bound for Dublin Port) and the Victorine.
In an update today (14 May), the new H5 class Seraphine was observed in Dublin Bay bound for Liverpool, having called to Dublin Port, an en-route hub port following its service from Santander, Spain.
In addition, the change to higher-capacity vessels will also provide environmental benefits, as the use of these larger ships will reduce customers’ CO2 emissions per tonne of transported cargo by up to 50%. The new, scalable schedule comprises 24 return sailings per week and will operate between CLdN’s newly refurbished terminal at Brocklebank Dock in the Port of Liverpool (part of Peel Ports), and Dublin.
The service plays an essential role in transporting freight between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, with CLdN carrying more than 200,000 freight units on the route every year.
Commenting on the increased capacity, Gary Walker, Chief Operating Officer of CLdN’s shipping operations said: “This capacity increase shows the benefits that CLdN’s fleet capabilities can bring to customers. Not only are we able to increase the space available for cargo, but we are also enabling further reductions in the environmental footprint of each journey. The capacity increase is a direct benefit of the recently completed expansion and refurbishment of our Liverpool terminal. We now have more than 900 trailer bays as well as enhanced drop-off and pick-up facilities for our customers.”
By lowering its environmental footprint, this also aligns with the Port of Liverpool (Peel Ports Group) and its shared ambition to reduce carbon emissions through more efficient logistics solutions. The northwestern port in England has also welcomed the investment in larger vessels, and the expanded schedule is a significant step forward for the port, further enhancing its role as a key gateway for trade and supporting customers’ sustainability goals.
This latest development on the Irish Sea follows CLdN's announcement last week of the launch of a new Lo-Lo (Load-on-Load-off) container shipping service between Zeebrugge, Belgium, and Ireland.
CLdN, with its headquarters in Luxembourg, also operates a multimodal transport system through an extensive short-sea and rail network, which is a shift from road to rail or water.
