New ferry service starting between Cork and Santander

Tabnabs

https://www.imdo.ie/Home/site-area/news-events/new-ferry-service-cork-santander-set-increase-tourism-and-freight-munster

New Ferry Service from Cork to Santander Set to Increase Tourism and Freight in Munster
The Port of Cork Company today welcomed the announcement of a new route into Northern Spain from Cork which is due to commence at the end of April 2018.

The Port of Cork Company today welcomed the announcement of a new route into Northern Spain from Cork which is due to commence at the end of April 2018. The service which will make two return sailings a week from Port of Cork to Port of Santander will be operated by Brittany Ferries and will include a weekly return sailing from Cork to Roscoff also.

A new RoPax ship called ‘Connemara’ will be chartered to serve the route which will add much needed capacity to Brittany Ferries existing line to France from Cork. The ship is currently operating on routes between Italy and Greece and will carry around 500 passengers with space for 195 cars. The Port of Cork and Brittany Ferries would expect a fifty-fifty split between passengers and freight carried.

Port of Cork’s Commercial Manager Captain Michael McCarthy said, “The Port of Cork wholeheartedly welcomes a service we have been trying as a port to establish for some time now. We are delighted that our long term customer, Brittany Ferries, has committed to this new service which will see an increase in tourism and freight. The option for freight carriers to bypass the UK land bridge will be seen as very attractive, as Brexit uncertainty continues. We have no doubt that both exporters and importers will make this a viable service.’

At present, there is a range of opinion about possible ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ UK Brexit scenarios, the timing and likely effects. For example, a ‘hard’ border (at ports and across Irish Sea) would mean Customs controls for ports serving the UK, increasing the need for this direct service between Ireland and Spain and an opportunity for Cork as a new ‘centre of gravity’.

The Port of Cork hinterland is the key primary agriculture and Food & Drink output region in the country. The vast majority of the goods imported and exported through Cork are consumables in the perishables arena such as wines, spirits, dairy, water and a wide range of other supermarket products. Freight customers will like this route because the Port of Cork can load and unload quickly thereby enabling customers to get their produce to market quicker, than if they travel through East Coast ports.

This new route to Northern Spain and France will greatly reduce the amount of road miles and therefore providing a lower cost door to door option for shippers. This will provide substantial carbon (CO2) cost saving that is becoming increasingly relevant to companies that are seeking to exhibit their ‘green’ credentials.

The new service from Brittany Ferries is expected to be on sale by the end of January.

dashoonage

How long would that sailing take ?

Subcomandante Marcos

dashoonage wrote: »

How long would that sailing take ?

26 hours.

roundymac

ww.brittanyferries.ie/ferry-routes/new-direct-ireland-spain-route
Looks like its going to a very basic service. I'd love to know who came up with the name "Connemara.:eek:

sword1

It will be great for the export /import from Spain. With brexit it is not going to be as straightforward going through the UK. Start it simple and see how it goes but I think it will be a success.

scuby

It will be easy for the Spanish trawlers to dump their catch into the trucks in castletownbere for delivery to Spain now.....

Water John

Don't think fish is exported, unprocessed.
It will be handy for live calf export.

embraer170

This is the ship:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Norman_Asturias

scuby

Water John wrote:

Don't think fish is exported, unprocessed. It will be handy for live calf export.

Currently, trucks collect from the ships on the quay in Castletownbere, and drive straight to Rosslare for the ferry.

Atlantic Dawn

scuby wrote: »

Currently, trucks collect from the ships on the quay in Castletownbere, and drive straight to Rosslare for the ferry.

With not a single fisheries inspector in sight :mad:

malinheader

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

With not a single fisheries inspector in sight :mad:

Sure the fishery officers are to busy harassing the Irish boats and making there job even Harder.

ScouseMouse

embraer170 wrote: »

This is the ship:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Norman_Asturias

DeJa Vous?

That looks exactly like the Norman Atlantic, the ship LD lines used to Spain via San Nazaire. I think it is a sister ship and similar to Epilson.

It was a real freight boat with minimal facilities but with the right timings, and a nights sleep, it could be ok. Will be interesting to see how the fares look. I do know the LD lines route was supported by grants to move freight off the roads on a trip from Ireland to Spain.

yiddo59

Back again in 2019. Starting in April. Online booking opens tomorrow.

victory65

Any update on prices, travelling on this ship, etc..? Has anyone made a trip on it to Santander?

Car99

https://www.brittanyferries.ie/ferry-routes/ireland-spain-ferries/cork-santander

From €560 return for car with two people. Basic freight ferry.

Ultimate Seduction

victory65 wrote: »

Any update on prices, travelling on this ship, etc..? Has anyone made a trip on it to Santander?

There's a huge thread with plenty reports from people who have used it last year. The thread is in the Cork City forum here on Boards

ToxicPaddy

victory65 wrote: »

Any update on prices, travelling on this ship, etc..? Has anyone made a trip on it to Santander?

I made the trip from Santander to Cork last Sept.

The ferry is very basic, with a small canteen style dining area which is only open for a few hours for breakfast, lunch and dinner with limited food options. Prices are reasonable and I thought the food was not too bad but you wouldn't want to be a fussy eater.

The only other things on board are a small bar/cafe, a tiny shop and a big open plan seating area.

Wifi is pretty much non existent despite claims it's available and it's not available in the cabins.

There is nothing else to do apart from sleeping or drinking so its not ideal if you are travelling with young kids as there are no options for entertaining them for the 26 hours on board.

My other half doesn't have great sea legs so she pretty much spent the whole time in the cabin asleep. Suited me as I had my laptop loaded with films so was happy to chill out watching movies and sleeping only popping out for food or a coffee every now and again.

If you've no young kids and are happy with the basic amenities its perfect as it saves 12 hours of driving and the French motorway tolls.

yiddo59

Great to see the Cork to Santandar service continuing. Obviously BF are happy with the route and it,s doing better than than some would have us believe,

"Brittany Ferries has today confirmed names for its next ships. Kerry will be the name for the one-year charter vessel arriving in November 2019. As previously announced, this ship will cover the Cork to Santander route from November 2019 to November 2020".

https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/brittany-ferries-names-new-ships-and-promises-significant-co2-savings-from-fleet-renewal-plans/

Vic_08

yiddo59 wrote: »

Great to see the Cork to Santandar service continuing. Obviously BF are happy with the route and it,s doing better than than some would have us believe,

"Brittany Ferries has today confirmed names for its next ships. Kerry will be the name for the one-year charter vessel arriving in November 2019. As previously announced, this ship will cover the Cork to Santander route from November 2019 to November 2020".

https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/brittany-ferries-names-new-ships-and-promises-significant-co2-savings-from-fleet-renewal-plans/

The primary reason for them leasing this ship is to allow flexibility to cover for the very late arrival of a new ship that is being built by the same shipyard as the WB Yeats which should have been delivered by now. They plan on using the Connemara as a cover vessel with a full French crew while the hired in ship stays on Cork - Santander.

This ship is a similar Visentini to the Connemara, Epsilon, Stena Horizon, etc and if anything it may be even a bit lower spec accommodation wise, some work may be done but there won't be any significant upgrade in on board facilities.

I don't think that this is in particular an endorsement of the viability of the route long term, BF had committed to a 2 year service, this lease will extend that by some months. That they haven't used the need for a cover vessel for their main routes as an excuse to pull the Cork-Santander route is an indication it isn't a hopeless case it's a bit early to be judging it a success either.