Hibernia Line Launches New Ferry Service: Ringaskiddy to Boulogne-sur-Mer
Hibernia Line launched a new ferry service from Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, offering six weekly sailings. The service, expecting 250,000 annual passengers, provides an alternative to flying and a direct freight route. It creates 250 jobs and uses two vessels with over 600-passenger capacity each.
Hibernia Line has launched a new ferry service connecting Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, Ireland, with Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France. Bookings are now open for the service, which will operate six sailings per week in each direction year-round, with an expected annual capacity of over 250,000 passengers.
Aidan Coffey, Hibernia Line founder and CEO, stated that despite rising fuel prices due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade, the company has secure fuel supplies. The 21-hour journey offers an alternative to flying, allowing passengers to travel with families and vehicles like camper vans, appealing to Europeans, particularly Germans and Dutch. Boulogne-sur-Mer provides access to eastern France, central Europe, Paris, Disneyland Paris, Brussels, and Bruges.
This new route also offers a direct freight corridor to continental Europe. The service is supported by the Goodman group and will create up to 250 jobs, including opportunities for cadets from the National Maritime College of Ireland. Minister Seán Canney noted such direct routes enhance supply chain resilience and offer more choice. The St Patrick (193 cabins) and MV Akka (227 cabins) will operate the route, each accommodating over 600 passengers, with pet-friendly, accessible options, dining, lounges, and children's play areas. Bookings are available at www.hibernia-line.com.