Ferry Freight Traffic in January Up 45% at Rosslare Europort & Freight to Europe Up 446% Year-on-Year

1st February 2021

Jehan Ashmore

Record Freight Figures at Rosslare Europort as above AFLOAT adds is on the occasion in January when DFDS launched ro-pax Optima Seaways onto a new ro-ro freight route to Dunkirk, France. As RTE adds the new regime requiring hauliers leaving for France to have evidence of a negative Covid-19 test is reported to be going relatively smoothly. Credit: RTE News-twitter

Ferry services running out of Rosslare Europort has reported a 45% jump in freight traffic during January compared to the same period last year.

UK traffic is down 49% for the month, but European freight is up by 446% year-on-year, with "unprecedented demand" for the new direct services which opened up since 1 January between Rosslare and the mainland continent.

Hauliers have been using the services between Rosslare and Dunkirk and Cherbourg in France to avoid the UK landbridge, now that the post-Brexit fallout means extra customs and other checks for traffic entering and exiting the EU.

Meanwhile, the new regime requiring hauliers leaving Ireland for France to produce evidence of a negative Covid-19 test result is reported to be going relatively smoothly.

The first pop-up test centres for commercial drivers only opened in Gorey and Dublin on Thursday, with further "drive-through" centres since opened in Cork and Shannon, and another for truckers due to open at Holmestown outside Wexford town in the coming days.

More here reports RTE News on this record traffic development at Ireland's closest port to mainland Europe.

Published in Rosslare Europort, Ferry

Published in Rosslare Europort

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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