News
Brittany Ferries’ Kerry sets sail from Rosslare Europort
- First Rosslare to Bilbao sailing Friday, 28th February
- First French rotation Monday, 23rd March
- Move welcomed by Irish and Spanish hauliers
Brittany Ferries ship Kerry embarked on her inaugural direct sailing from Rosslare Europort to Bilbao on Friday, 28th February.
The new route out of Rosslare has been welcomed by hauliers given the port’s proximity to Dublin and the east coast road network. Equally hauliers operating on the European mainland have welcomed the move to Bilbao, a port more attuned to freight traffic with easier transport links into the Iberian Peninsula.
While primarily aimed at the freight market into Europe, the route will also carry holidaymakers to both Spain and France. It will be part of Brittany Ferries ‘économie’ service, offering a comfortable, no-frills voyage. Sailings will be twice-weekly and will incorporate a weekly Ireland/France rotation (schedule included below).
Speaking at the launch of the new route, Brittany Ferries Group Freight Director, Simon Wagstaff: “I am delighted to be here for the first Brittany Ferries sailing from Rosslare. Since we opened operations linking Ireland and Spain in 2018 we have listened carefully to feedback from freight customers, on what is predominantly a route for commercial traffic. The clear message was that a move to Rosslare would help them and us deliver a more attractive option to the UK landbridge. We now operate from two ports in Ireland, reinforcing our commitment to the country, its people and its economy.”
Glenn Carr, General Manager, Rosslare Europort added: “We are delighted to welcome Brittany Ferries’ Kerry to Rosslare Europort today. We look forward to working with Brittany Ferries to building a successful partnership to serve freight and passenger customers. The decision to introduce this service not only shows the appeal of Rosslare Europort to shipping lines, freight and tourism customers, but also is the first of what we intend to be a number of new business announcements, building on our €25 million investment plans in port facilities, infrastructure and technology. Rosslare Europort is Ireland’s closest port to mainland Europe, and is now the only port outside of Dublin with a Border Inspection Post facility, and will provide the quickest direct services for exports and imports to both Europe and the UK post-Brexit.”
The new Rosslare to Bilbao route will open for passenger bookings online in early March but customers can now book through the Brittany Ferries reservations team by phone on 021 427 7801. Our Freight Reservations team can be contacted on +44 (0)330 159 5000.
Ends.
Winter Sailing Schedule (Until Friday, 20th March 2020)
| Rosslare to Bilbao | Depart Mondays at 23.30 | Arrive Bilbao Wednesdays at 08:00 |
| Depart Fridays at 23:30 | Arrive Bilbao Sundays at 08:00 | |
| Bilbao to Rosslare | Depart Sundays at 12:00 | Arrive Rosslare Mondays at 16:00 |
| Depart Thursdays at 12:00 | Arrive Rosslare Fridays at 15:00 |
Spring Sailing Schedule (From Sunday, 22nd March 2020 until Friday, 30th October 2020)
| Rosslare to Bilbao | Depart Fridays at 23:30 | Arrive Bilbao Sundays at 08:00 |
| Depart Wednesdays at 11:00 | Arrive Bilbao Thursdays at 16:00 | |
| Bilbao to Rosslare | Depart Sundays at 12:00 | Arrive Rosslare Mondays at 16:00 |
| Depart Thursdays at 17:45 or 18:45 (depending on date) | Arrive Bilbao Fridays at 20:30 or 21:30 (depending on date) | |
| Rosslare to Roscoff | Depart Mondays at 23:30 | Arrive Roscoff Tuesdays at 15:30 |
| Roscoff to Rosslare | Depart Tuesdays at 19:00 | Arrive Rosslare Wednesdays at 08:00 |
About Brittany Ferries:
In 1967 a farmer from Finistère in Brittany, Alexis Gourvennec, succeeded in bringing together a variety of organisations from the region to embark on an ambitious project: the aim was to open up the region, to improve its infrastructure and to enrich its people by turning to traditional partners such as Ireland and the UK.
In 1972 BAI (Brittany-England-Ireland) was born. The first cross-Channel link was inaugurated in January 1973, when a converted Israeli tank-carrier called Kerisnel left the port of Roscoff for Plymouth carrying trucks loaded with Breton vegetables such as cauliflowers and artichokes. The story therefore begins on 2 January 1973, 24 hours after Great Britain’s entry into the Common Market (EEC). From these humble beginnings however Brittany Ferries as the company was re-named quickly opened up to passenger transport, then became a tour operator.
Today, Brittany Ferries has established itself as the national leader in French maritime transport: an atypical leader, under private ownership, still owned by a Breton agricultural cooperative. Eighty five percent of the company’s passengers are British. Around 210,000 freight units are carried each year.
PR Contact:
Brittany Ferries: Claire Guiney +353-87-6775417 / [email protected]
Rosslare Europort: Barry Kenny +353-87-2381224 / [email protected]