The Port of Cork Company has welcomed the first call of the new MSC direct freight service to Europe at Cork Container Terminal (CCT) which took place yesterday (Thursday) evening.

The development follows a highly anticipated announcement in early February as Afloat reported on the direct Cork to Europe service.

MSC Shipping Group, the world’s largest deep-sea line operator, is now running a new route linking Cork directly with northern Europe for the first time, offering enhanced trade connectivity and an economic boost for businesses in Ireland.

The container vessel, MSC Nikoleta remains in the port today at the CCT and where the vessel spans over 180ft in length and has the capacity to carry 1,720 TEU of cargo per week between Cork and the ports of Le Harve, France and Antwerp in Belgium.

The ship carried goods from global industry to businesses in Cork.

Commenting on the new service, Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cork Company stated, “This new service is a welcome addition to the Port of Cork and is great news for the business economy in Munster. We are delighted that MSC is now offering a direct call to Cork, offering enhanced connectivity to mainland Europe".

"This new service, plus the recent FDI report ranking Cork as the number one small city in Europe for economic potential, further enhances the Port of Cork’s positioning as a catalyst for global trade and for attracting foreign direct investment. We welcome this as the first of many deep-sea lines to use Cork Container Terminal as a global gateway to connect.”

Simon McKeever, Chief Executive of the Irish Exporters Association, commented: “Ireland, as an island nation on the edge of Europe, has always been dependent on the prosperity of our ports and shipping services. Combined they both make a significant contribution to Ireland’s economy. We welcome the continuous investments being made in the ports sector, particularly in the Port of Cork, where the addition of Cork to the schedule of the world’s largest deep-sea line, MSC, will bring greater economic benefits to the region.”

The new service which commenced yesterday, 2nd March is to run weekly from this date.

Major global container shipping operator the MSC Group is to launch a new direct 'feeder' service connecting Dublin Port and the Port of Cork to mainland Europe, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The new weekly service to Dublin and Cork is to link to two key transshipment hubs of Le Havre in France and Antwerp in Belgium.

The MSC Group which includes cruise line and passenger ferry operations, say the new feeder route linking between Ireland and Europe will offer competitive transit times and flexibility for their customers.

The rotation of the feeder route service will be as follows: Antwerp -Dublin-Cork-Le Havre- Antwerp.

Operating the route will be the MV Cara-Liv which is scheduled to make an inaugural call to Dublin on 28th February.

The containership Afloat adds has a 1,726 TEU capacity and after the call to the capital will head to Cork on 3rd March.