Just weeks after the successful launch of the Cork to Antwerp Ro-Ro route, the Grimaldi Group has extended its Ro-Ro feeder service between Belgium and Ireland with a new call from Cork to Zeebrugge. The Port of Cork has welcomed this new call to Zeebrugge, which will offer efficient freight flows, with even more competitive, safe, and eco-sustainable connections compared to the UK land bridge.
The vessel deployed on the Zeebrugge-Antwerp-Cork service is the Italian-flagged Ro-Ro unit ‘Eurocargo Bari’, which has a length of 200 meters, a width of 26.5 meters, a gross tonnage of 32,632 tonnes and a service speed of 23 knots. With hoistable decks, this vessel can transport 3,850 linear meters of rolling freight and 200 cars.
The ‘Eurocargo Bari’ is a modern, eco-friendly Ro-Ro ship that will significantly improve the carbon footprint of freight flows between Ireland and the European Continent. Furthermore, with both Antwerp and Zeebrugge being strategically located and easily accessible from production sites in Belgium, the Netherlands, Northern France and Germany, the service will generate even greater environmental benefits, as trucks and trailers will cover shorter distances by road.
Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Cork said: ‘The decision by Grimaldi Group to extend their direct services from Cork, this time to the Port of Zeebrugge is very welcome indeed, particularly after only recently introducing a direct service from Cork to Antwerp. The new Ro-Ro service to Zeebrugge helps to further strengthen Cork’s direct links with the heart of Europe, as shippers seek direct links to market rather than use the UK Land bridge.’
The addition of the Port of Zeebrugge to the Grimaldi service network takes place at a historic moment for the Northern European economy and commenting on the service, the Neapolitan Group’s Managing Director Emanuele Grimaldi said: ‘We have decided to further optimize trades between the Continent and Ireland, offering our industrial customers a double choice for loading and improving transit time, in order to strengthen the Antwerp-Zeebrugge port axis as a logistics, maritime and industrial hub.’
On Friday April 24th 2020, CLDN launched a similar RoRo service, which is detailed via this link.
To visit the Port of Cork website, please click here.
