Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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353. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts being made to encourage operators to increase direct shipping routes from Ireland to continental Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1334/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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It has been clear for some time there would be disruption to the GB landbridge when customs and border controls between the EU and the UK were introduced at the end of the Brexit transition period.  My Department, in conjunction with the IMDO, has been keeping the issue of direct shipping routes to the Continent under close review both in the context of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since January 2019, my Department has had very regular discussions with shipping companies and other maritime stakeholders about the issue of maritime connectivity.  In that time, we have consistently received strong assurances from the shipping companies that if there is an increase in demand for shipping capacity on direct routes to Continental Europe, they would respond. 

In the run up to 1 January 2021, my Department, with the IMDO and other key Departments, undertook a major communications campaign, urging business using the UK landbridge to consider a switch to direct routes to avoid disruptions due to the new control regimes.

We witnessed throughout 2020 and at the beginning of 2021 an unprecedented response from the shipping industry in terms of increasing capacity to match market demand. It has occurred across all relevant modes and has drawn from all available responses. These responses include (1) utilization of surplus capacity, (2) increasing capacity by altering schedules, (3) redeploying vessels within their fleets, and (4) adding new capacity in the form of additional vessels.

Number of Sailings

As of March 2021, there are around 68 RoRo freight sailings between Ireland and the Continent in a typical week. This includes five shipping operators, Irish Ferries, Stena Line, DFDS, Brittany Ferries and CLDN offering both accompanied and unaccompanied freight. This represents an increase of around 34 sailings per week, or around 150% increase in continental RoRo frequency compared to March 2020.

Specifically in relation to sailings between Ireland and France, in January 2020, there were 12 weekly sailings to and from Northern France. These were provided by Irish Ferries and Stena Line to the port of Cherbourg (not including the seasonal service operated by Brittany Ferries to Roscoff). In the last 12 months, the number of sailings to Northern France has increased by 30. Based on published schedules, there are now around 42 sailings per week to and from the ports of Dunkerque and Cherbourg, Roscoff and St Malo provided by Stena Line, Irish Ferries, DFDS and Brittany Ferries.

Freight Capacity

The increase in choice and frequency in the RoRo freight market over the past year has had a very significant impact on freight capacity to continental EU ports. Weekly RoRo freight capacity to continental EU ports has doubled in the past 12 months. There is now capacity for approximately 5,000 additional HGV’s & unaccompanied trailers on continental RoRo services per week in March 2021.

Unaccompanied RoRo freight is an essential component of continental RoRo capacity. In 2020, unaccompanied RoRo freight made up over 80%of all continental RoRo volume.  The importance of unaccompanied RoRo volume is not expected to change.

Details of growth in direct services

There have been 22 separate interventions, as set out below, by Ro/Ro+ Lo/Lo freight operators in the past 12 months in response to Brexit. In addition, DFDS has announced recently that they will be putting on an additional freight ship (Ark Dania - 188 units) on the Rosslare/Dunkirk from 1 April 2021 meaning an additional vessel will service the continental corridor.

As shipping operators compete to understand new demand patterns, the market is currently in a state of dynamism, with a new equilibrium yet to be found. If demand arises, operators have proved they stand ready to respond as necessary. 

I also wish to assure the Deputy that my officials and I will continue to keep in close contact with the shipping companies to monitor the situation and assist where possible.