New competitor on Dover-Calais ferry route

Irish Ferries move intensifies cross-Channel rivalry at a time when business has slumped

French connection: the Isle of Inishmore ferry will link England and France (Irish Ferries)

With Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic drastically reducing the amount of traffic across the Channel between Dover and Calais, the two existing ferry firms face fresh competition.

From June 2021, Irish Ferries will compete directly with P&O Ferries and DFDS Ferries on the prime cross-Channel connection, as well as against the Eurotunnel link from Folkestone to Calais.

The new service will be for private motorists and passengers as well as freight– though the firm says the level of passenger services offered will depend on the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

The announcement was made shortly after hauliers crossing from France to the UK were told they will need to take Covid tests, because of heightened fears of importing new variants of coronavirus.

Irish Ferries is replacing the Isle of Inishmore vessel on its existing Pembroke to Rosslare route, and moving the ship to the Dover-Calais link. The firm says additional capacity will be added “in the coming months”.

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The firm said in a statement: “We are very excited about launching our services on the best short sea ferry market in the world and we believe we can bring more choice for customers in the years ahead.”

Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said: “This is a clear signal of market confidence in the Dover route and will complement the resilient services currently provided.”

Jean-Marc Puissesseau, chairman of the Port of Calais, said: “It is a clear sign of confidence just a few weeks before the opening of the new port of Calais.”

At present no international leisure travel is allowed from the UK, with a £5,000 fixed penalty applying from Monday to anyone turning up at ports or airports intending to go on holiday.

According to the Road Haulage Association, exports from British ports to the EU fell by two-thirds in January 2021 compared with a year earlier.

But the Cabinet Office said freight flows were “close to normal”.