In Waterford, the Green Party has welcomed moves to open a new shipping route linking Rosslare Europort to Le Havre in France.
An Irish delegation according to WaterfordLive, met with representatives of the French government and officials from the port of Le Havre last Friday with a view connecting the two ports by sea.
Responding to the news, Cllr. Marc Ó Cathasaigh commented the route has the potential to relieve some of the pressure on Dublin while benefiting the Southeast region and to help insulate Waterford from the worst effects of a crash-out Brexit.
"Rosslare Europort is of enormous strategic significance, all the more so with the spectre of Brexit looming. We know that Dublin Port and its surrounding infrastructure is creaking at the seams, and opening additional capacity through Rosslare could allow the Southeast to become a counterweight to Dublin-centric development and help drive economic activity here in Waterford."
The Tramore-based councillor also believes that opening a route to Le Havre could unlock European funding to develop the surrounding infrastructure.
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Afloat adds Greek operator Neptune Lines launched in 2017 a vehicle importing service based on the following rotation: Santander (Spain) – Le Havre (France) – Southampton – Portbury - (both UK) and Rosslare Europort.
As for the last passenger/car ferry linking Le Havre (see: 500th/Irish ferry routes) this took place when French owned LD Lines began operations in November 2008 served by ropax Norman Voyager. The operation was short-lived as LD Lines withdrew and by September 2009, Norman Voyager was chartered to Irish-owned Celtic Link Ferries but serving instead Cherbourg.
The Wexford (Kilmore Quay) based ferry company would themselves only trade a few years more (see farewell sailing) following acquisition by Stena Line in 2014.
