The Port of Cork has announced that the Grimaldi Group will offer a twice weekly direct Ro-Ro service from Cork to Antwerp starting in the second week of May.
The announcement comes after a number of new freight ferry services between Cork and mainland Europe, the USA, the UK, Africa and Central America. As Cork Beo reports, there are currently 22 regular RoRo or LoLo (lift on, lift off container ships) operating between Cork and ports across the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
The Grimaldi Group, who will operate the new route using its RoRo vessel ‘Eurocargo Bari’, has identified Cork and Munster as a key growth market. The company has been operating services in and out of Cork for almost a quarter of a century.
Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer a the Port of Cork said:
The decision by the Grimaldi Group to offer a direct Cork-Antwerp-Cork freight service is very welcome and will greatly support our efforts to keep supply chains moving during the current Covid-19 pandemic. The new service will also further strengthen Cork’s direct links with the heart of Europe, capitalising on the market’s growing use of the unaccompanied freight model, as shippers seek direct links to market rather than use the UK Land bridge.
Photo credit: Piergiuliano Chesi / Wikimedia Commons