From Saturday 23rd January 2021 we will boost the freight capacity between Ireland to France. For the first time ever the Stena Estrid will depart Dublin for a round trip to Cherbourg in France.
This new service will be weekends only whilst our customers adjust to the new post-Brexit rules, which have temporarily changed the flow of freight on the Irish Sea. This will result in a temporary reduction of weekend capacity in Dublin – Holyhead services, which will continue to be served by Stena Adventurer.
Brexit has led to a large upheaval in trade flows across the Irish Sea, with demand for freight increasing on the routes direct to France, as well as from Belfast to Britain. The knock-on effect has led to a large reduction in freight flows across our central routes, between the Republic of Ireland and Wales. However we believe freight levels on those routes will return. In the meantime we need to be flexible and respond to the demands as our customers in Ireland, who would normally use the Dublin – Holyhead route, have indicated to us that they would like an additional service from Dublin to France, which we are now able to provide due to the more agile set up of our Irish Sea fleet.
We are also working with our customers to assist them in addressing the issues they are facing when trying to navigate the new customs procedures, for moving goods between Britain and the Republic.
The Stena Estrid is one of our new larger E-Flexer vessels, which has a 3,100 lane metre capacity and 175 cabins. It will follow its sister ship to France, Stena Embla, which will temporarily assist direct traffic between Rosslare and Cherbourg.
The Stena Estrid will depart Dublin Port at 15:00 on Saturday 23rd January, arriving in Cherbourg at 11:00 on Sunday 24th January. She will then depart at 15:00 that day, arriving back in Dublin at 11:00 on Monday 26th January. She will spend the remainder of the week back on the Dublin to Holyhead route before returning to the new French route the following weekend.
Please contact our freight team if you want to place your bookings on this service.