New Cork-Spain ferry route close to final green light?

AwaitYourReply

The "Brexit Buster" ferry route will link Cork with Plymouth in the UK and Vigo in Spain

https://i2-prod.corkbeo.ie/incoming/article17735269.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_Port-of-Corkjpeg.jpg
The delegation from Cork and their Spanish counterparts in Vigo this week.

A new year-round ferry route linking Cork with Vigo in northern Spain - via Plymouth - has taken a big step towards launching this Spring or early Summer.

A delegation of Port of Cork officials travelled to Vigo this week to meet with port officials and ferry operators to finalise arrangements for the new service, which would replace the Cork-Santander service which stops operating at the end of this month.

The loss of the Brittany Ferries operated Cork-Santander route had been met with dismay in Cork, from local businesses, exporters and holiday-makers.

However this new ferry service - as first reported by CorkBeo in October - should provide a much needed transport and trade route in the post-Brexit environment, travelling between Cork, Plymouth and Spain.

The planned joint venture involving one of Europe's biggest ferry operators along with shipping companies in Spain will operate a three-times a week, year round service between Spain, the UK and Ireland.

It would serve tourism as well as being a so-called "Brexit Buster" that provides a new link between Ireland and the continent for imports and exports.

As major new port facilities come online in Cork Harbour, this new route would underline just how important the port of Cork could become in a post-Brexit environment.

Chief Executive of the Port of Cork Brendan Keating was among those to travel to Vigo this week to meet with their Spanish counterparts and discuss the proposed line which is seen as a priority for our two historic port cities.

The Port Authority of Vigo had sent a delegation to Cork before Christmas to discuss the new route, even as Brittany Ferries was making plans to end the Cork-Santander route and instead operate their Spanish link from Rosslare.

A statement from Port of Vigo said the visit by the Cork delegation had been a success and the new Cork-Plymouth-Vigo route was "highly sought after by the fishing and transport logistics sectors - potential customers have exceeded initial forecasts".

Source courtesy: CorkBeo.ie
https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/new-cork-spain-ferry-route-17735299
https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/new-cork-spain-ferry-route-17652516

AwaitYourReply

Vigo Port Authority website which referenced the visiting delegation of Brendan Keating and Nick Burke from the Port of Cork to Vigo on February 12, 2020 which followed on from a previous visit last December to Cork by members of the Port Authority of Vigo, Xunta de Galicia and Galician companies where the launch of a maritime line that would link Vigo with Plymouth, in the south west of England, was put on the table, with a previous stop at the Port of Cork. An Atlantic Ferry Line project, highly demanded by the fishing and logistics sector, where, according to its managers, potential customers have exceeded initial forecasts.

Source:
https://www.apvigo.es/es/paginas/noticias/app1/noticias/ver/167/la-apv-recibe-la-visita-de-responsables-del-puerto-irlandes-de-cork.html

https://www.apvigo.es/

Rhys Essien

Every new route is a bonus but imagine how long this will take if it’s via Plymouth. The Santander one was 26 hours direct. This one will be at least 40-50 hours I’d say so how many people are going to be happy with that.

lostinsuperfunk

I would be really interested in using this for Cork-Plymouth. Cork-Rosslare-Fishguard-Southwestern England is a long and difficult drive.

AwaitYourReply

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Every new route is a bonus but imagine how long this will take if it’s via Plymouth. The Santander one was 26 hours direct. This one will be at least 40-50 hours I’d say so how many people are going to be happy with that.

This is probably aimed primarily at transporting freight although; it will also accommodate a certain number of passengers as well. I gather somewhere in the region of around 28 hours between Spain and Ireland has been mentioned. We shall await further confirmation in due course.

It gives more of an insight into the type of service they are seeking to operate on the below article published 29th January 2020 on CorkBeo.ie

(Link to full article is included below and please note you need to scroll right down the page (i.e.) below "C Related Articles")

Source:
https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/new-cork-spain-ferry-route-17652516

Ubbquittious

Be handy for going to Plymouth thats about it

AwaitYourReply

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Be handy for going to Plymouth thats about it

I'm sure if there is a sufficient demand for importing/exporting goods to/from Ireland to Vigo in Spain it will be more than just a sea link with Plymouth in England.