New Dover to Calais ferry service to be introduced

Published

8th April 2021

Irish Ferries is the market leader for freight and passengers between Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

It said that additional capacity on the Dover–Calais route will significantly strengthen the capacity and reliability of the landbridge for exporters and importers as hauliers will now have one operator providing an inclusive service on the Dublin–Holyhead, Rosslare–Pembroke and Dover–Calais routes.

This will, the company said, allow exporters and importers easier, cheaper and quicker access to European markets via the Common Transit Convention (CTC).

The CTC is used for moving goods between the EU Member States and the EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) as well as Turkey, Macedonia and Serbia.

The UK negotiated membership in its own right after Brexit with the Government saying that it would provide cashflow benefits to traders and aid trade flow at key points of entry into the UK, as traders only have to make customs declarations and pay import duties when they arrive at their final destination.

Doug Bannister, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, welcomed the news of the new service.

He said: “We believe the inclusive landbridge product will be popular with Irish exporters and will strengthen the just in time supply chain into the European Union. This is a clear signal of market confidence in the Dover route and will complement the resilient services currently provided.”

Jean-Marc Puissesseau, Chairman, Port of Calais, also welcomed the new service which, he said, emphasised the strategic position of Calais in the trade between Ireland, the United Kingdom and the continent.

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