Hibernia Line: Freight to Boulogne-sur-Mer
Looking for a high-speed, reliable freight service from Ireland to mainland Europe? The new Hibernia Line route between Ringaskiddy in Cork and Boulogne-sur-Mer is an excellent option for time-critical and refrigerated goods, as well as all cargo types, including container, liquid and dry bulk, and it offers a real geographical and logistical alternative to routes that use the UK land bridge.
In the aftermath of Brexit, we have seen increasing costs and delays using established freight routes across the UK, and high-quality direct maritime routes offer the perfect alternative. The Hibernia Line from Cork to Boulogne-sur-Mer is designed to give passengers and freighters a direct route between Ireland and mainland Europe, which is convenient for delivering all types of cargo to the EU Market. This service will run six times per week, all year round, offering the consistency that seasonal routes cannot.
If you have been using or considering a freight route that utilises the UK land bridge or that runs between Rosslare and Cherbourg or Cork and Roscoff, the Ringaskiddy to Boulogne-sur-Mer Hibernia Line will offer you a direct, fast alternative that opens up accessibility to Germany, Belgium, the Benelux Region and the rest of Europe. Here, we’ll take a look at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer and how this can change the way your business operates for the better.
Why Boulogne-sur-Mer?
Boulogne-sur-Mer (BSM) is a port in north-eastern France, very close to the Belgian border and the major logistical hubs of the Benelux region. It is a great strategic entry point for goods that are destined for central and northern Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and this can save you money and time in comparison with traditional routes to ports in western France such as Roscoff and Cherbourg.
Bouologne-sur-Mer is well located and ideally placed for the time-critical, security-sensitive routes you need when you are freighting your cargo, including goods that require special transportation conditions such as refrigerated food and pharmaceuticals. Since Brexit, routes that cross the UK using the traditional Dover-Calais crossing have become more expensive, both due to admin and the increased cost of fuel, and are subject to lengthy delays and customs checks. This means that more and more businesses are looking for real alternatives that can optimise their operations and streamline their supply chains.
Benefits of Boulogne-sur-Mer Port
The Port of Boulogne-sur-Mer is a historic ‘ferry city’ on the north-eastern coast of France, with easier access to Paris and Northern Europe than more westerly ports. With the new Hibernia Line route from Cork, freight operators shipping to and from the port can make the most of its advantages, which include:
- Reduced transit times. The crossing to Boulogne-sur-Mer from Cork takes approximately 21 hours, which is around three hours shorter than the Rosslare-Dunkirk route. This is good news for time-sensitive goods, including pharmaceuticals and agricultural food, making it a faster entry point for goods travelling to central and northern Europe, including Scandinavia.
- Cost efficiency. Boulogne-sur-Mer is a practical solution that can help to lower your operational costs. The roads from Boulogne-sur-Mer are largely toll-free, which presents a significant cost saving for hauliers compared with the heavily tolled motorways that take freight from ports in Normandy and Brittany. Every cost consideration counts in business, and this is especially relevant as we are dealing with the rising costs of fuel at this time.
- Access to Markets. As France’s biggest commercial fishing port, Boulogne-sur-Mer is home to major fish markets and can provide direct access for the Irish seafood industry to reach European consumers more quickly. Boulogne-sur-Mer is strategically placed to facilitate trade and plays a central role in the maritime agri-food sector, which is important in the local and regional economy. As with other food and beverage produce and pharmaceutical cargoes, travel conditions are important and stability and time-sensitive transportation are vital
- Many of the Ireland to France ferry routes have historically operated on a seasonal basis, and services such as the Cork-Roscoff line have managed a twice-weekly service for many years. The Hibernia Line from Cork offers a more flexible schedule, with six sailings per week – daily except on Sundays – so that you can more easily meet the needs of your clients and customers.
- Extensive facilities. The well-established port at Boulogne-sur-Mer has facilities for the handling of fishing vessels, car ferries, fast catamaran ferries and pleasure craft, as well as cargo ships, and is a well-sheltered harbour with a fore and tidal port and several basins and docks. The port is well equipped to handle cargoes of all types, including dry bulk, fish, Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo traffic.
Boulogne-sur-Mer vs Cherbourg
If you’re already shipping to mainland Europe via an established maritime route, you’ll know that Rosslare to Cherbourg has been a popular route for many years. However, you may not know that while Cork is better located for southern and western distribution in Ireland, Boulogne-sur-Mer offers many advantages over Cherbourg port.
Cherbourg is located in Normandy, in northwestern France, making it more complex to move goods that are not destined for western and central France. Road accessibility is convenient from Boulogne-sur-Mer to wider Europe, with the port close to Belgium and Germany, and there are toll-free roads for most routes. Reducing the amount of road transportation your goods require will significantly reduce your costs, especially when fuel prices are high and unpredictable, and you will also benefit from avoiding congestion on routes out of Cherbourg and Calais.
Boulogne-sur-Mer vs Roscoff
The Cork to Roscoff link is a preferred route for many businesses, but the location alone is problematic if you are seeking consistent, reliable freight routes to mainland Europe. Roscoff is located in Brittany, in the extreme west of France. This means you are looking at long and expensive road connections to deliver your products to the rest of mainland Europe.
By contrast, the port of Boulogne is well located on the northeastern side of France, close to the Belgian border. This is a much faster entry point for goods that are destined for central and northern Europe, including the Benelux region, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and this is a crucial consideration when you are calculating costs, especially in light of the increasing cost of fuel. The good roads from Boulogne-sur-Mer are also a bonus, leading to the major road networks in northern Europe, and it is easier to avoid toll roads when leaving the port than it is at Roscoff and Calais.
Of course, it is also essential to consider that the Cork to Roscoff route is primarily a seasonal route, and this is problematic for most import and export businesses. The Hibernia Line between Ringaskiddy, Cork, and Boulogne-sur-Mer is a reliable, all-year-round route, so you can consistently deliver the excellence your customers expect from you.
Brexit: Why By-Passing The UK Makes Sense
The new Hibernia Line from Cork to Boulogne-sur-Mer was designed as a ‘Brexit-busting’ link, giving businesses all the advantages of the traditional Dover-Calais route without the increased inconvenience of navigating the UK land bridge in a post-Brexit market. The established routes using the Dover to Calais crossing between France and Ireland meant transporting goods across the UK by road, and this has become unsustainable since the UK left the EU. Now, with long delays, rigid controls and increased administration as standard, forward-thinking businesses are seeking out direct maritime routes that can offer the reliability and speed they need.
Brexit has changed the nature of freight delivery throughout Europe, and the Hibernia Line offers a viable, cost-effective response to this, by-passing the UK completely. This can provide businesses with the flexibility to establish resilient supply chains that are not dependent on the UK, promoting direct connections between EU countries. This is positive for businesses, drivers and customers, who can all benefit from using this direct, strategic alternative.
Putting Your Customers First
Your customers are at the heart of your business, and you want to ensure that you are exceeding their expectations wherever you can. This means that you need supply chains and transport routes you can rely on, so that you can deliver quality goods on time and on budget. The Cork to Boulogne-sur-Mer route reduces the stress of navigating post-Brexit UK legislation, as well as providing an alternative to the already congested traditional maritime routes that tend to be seasonal and extremely busy. This means that you can keep your delivery times consistent, streamlining the way your imports and exports are handled, and benefiting from a more stable supply chain.
Direct maritime routes offer excellent value in the long term, since these avoid the inevitable delays and penalties associated with UK-based routes. When you ship freight directly between Ireland and Boulogne-sur-Mer, you will ensure that your operations remain in the EU and your administrative costs are simplified, as well as your driving hours and transport costs.
Increasing Fuel Costs and The Environment
In business, you will always be looking to the future and making decisions that will make the most of your resources in the long run. We know that businesses that make sound environmental decisions are more likely to succeed, and you will be used to considering the environmental impact of your operational decisions. Accessing direct maritime routes, such as Ringskiddy to Boulogne-sur-Mer, offers many advantages for your organisation, including lower carbon emissions and reduced road mileage, which is particularly important when road fuel costs are unstable.
Taking steps to improve the environmental sustainability of your business means investigating greener supply chains and transport routes that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, including for unaccompanied freight, and this will also help you to optimise your operational efficiency. While consumers are increasingly looking for eco alternatives, the demand for shipping between Ireland and France continues to increase, and direct maritime routes can simplify your operations. Whether you are shipping agricultural food, seafood, pharmaceuticals or dry goods, you need a route that can be scaled to suit your operations and give you the reliable, predictable options you need for consistent, year-round deliveries.
The new ferry routes between Cork and Boulogne-sur-Mer offer optimal scheduling, with services planned six days a week throughout the year, so you can safeguard your supply chains and keep control of the way your businesses operate. This is good for your management and your employees at all levels, as well as the increasing number of customers who rely on you as your business grows.
High Speed, Cost-Efficient Crossings
The Hibernia Line is a hassle-free option for businesses, travelling from Ringaskiddy, Cork, to Boulogne-sur-Mer in approximately 21 hours, which is a significant time saving compared with the Rosslare-Dunkirk route. If you are focused on saving time and cutting costs in the transportation of your goods, this is the solution for you. Boulogne-sur-Mer is well located, ideal for goods arriving in mainland Europe, and it offers easy access to Belgium and the major logistic hubs of the Benelux region. Shipping goods to or from Germany, the Netherlands or Scandinavia has never been easier, and you’ll find that Boulogne-sur-Mer provides many benefits over the traditionally used western French ports of Roscoff and Cherbourg.
The services you use within your business operations should help you to deliver consistent and reliable services for your customers, and in the post-Brexit landscape, cutting out the UK land bridge is key. For time-sensitive cargo such as food and pharmaceuticals, you cannot compromise on the transport services you use, and accuracy is essential. The Hibernia Line delivers a real and sustainable alternative to UK routes and existing maritime routes, providing you with a strategic option that you can rely on year-round.
The Hibernia Line: Daily Sailings
The Hibernia Line will operate daily, except Sundays, with six departures per week. You can make the most of this schedule to optimise your import and export schedule, avoiding the UK land bridge and opening up access to central and eastern Europe. We work with our clients to optimise efficiency and reliability, and we look forward to discussing the options with you.