#NewOperation - A new operation has taken over the running of the only Ireland-Wales container service, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Cronus Logistics having taken over Cardiff Container Lines, have engaged with Associated British Ports (ABP) through incorporating one of their ports, the Port of Cardiff into its Irish Sea schedule. The takeover provides Cronus to strengthen and plan its expansion of Ireland-UK gateways between Warrenpoint, Dublin, Cardiff and Bristol.

The new operation will enable Cronus to offer cargoes and also specialising in the steel, forestry and building sectors to these Irish Sea and Bristol Channel ports. The call to Bristol did not feature in Cardiff Container Lines feeder network operated by Coronel as reported on Afloat a year ago.

Afloat has identified the pair of containerships that Cronus are operating on this expanded Irish Sea feeder network, they are Vanquish and Vanquish 2. Each vessel can take 45 foot curtain-sided or box containers as 20ft and 40ft boxes and refrigerated containers plus the ability to take out of gauge cargo.

At the Port of Cardiff is the 14-acre railhead that provides a connected rail terminal linking directly into the UK national rail network opening up potential new markets.

Also serving the Welsh capital Cardiff, are full-length intermodal trains which will now be discharged and loaded directly into the terminal. With an increase in rail traffic, Cardiff also has a large area of open and covered storage next to the railhead that can easily accommodate large shipments.

Irish cargoes can also benefit from onward transit from both Cardiff and Bristol on the Borchard Lines West Mediterranean service with sailings every 5 days. The routes serving the Mediterranean sail to/from Leixoes, Castellon, Salerno, Piraeus, Limassol, Ashdod, Haifa, Beirut, Alexandria, Mersin and Salerno.

As such Cronus Logistics via the Port of Dublin is now also acting as the weekly feeder service to the Line.