Here are some of the Irish Sea freight news updates you need to know. 

1. New freight routes added 

Last month, Stena Line announced the addition of a new freight route on the Irish Sea between Dublin and Birkenhead (Liverpool). 

According to Stena Line’s official statement, the service (which is expected to start from mid-February 2024) will establish "key logistics hubs connecting freight flows across the Irish Sea and creating efficiencies for port users."

2. Location changes

Hinting at plans to increase their offering on the Irish Sea, CLdN RoRo (formerly Seatruck Ferries) has recently undergone a change of terminal location within Dublin Port. 

From the 8th of January 2024, the CLdN RoRo Dublin to Heysham service will now operate from T5 at Dublin Port, moving from the previous location at T4. 

According to their official statement, this additional space will "maximise scalability and efficiency" for their Dublin to Heysham and Dublin to Liverpool services - the latter of which will continue to operate from T4 for the foreseeable future. 

3. Customs controls 

Full customs controls will apply to some goods moving between Irish and GB ports from 31st January 2024. 

From this time, a PBN and GMR will be required. Bookings without valid PBN and GMR references will be turned away.

Learn more about the upcoming customs controls here. 

4. Looking to the future 

Stena Line's commitment to the Irish Sea extends beyond their new Dublin-Birkenhead (Liverpool) route.  

In December of 2023, Stena Line signed a "significant" 77-year deal with Peel Ports to continue operating at Heysham Port. 

"Our twice daily freight service from Belfast-Heysham provides a vital trade corridor between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The collaborative agreement demonstrates the strong working partnership between Peel Ports Group and us and seeks to further strengthen our long-term relationship."

Meanwhile, Stena Line have also announced the construction of two NewMax hybrid vessels which will operate on methanol fuel and will help to expand their Belfast-Heysham service on the Irish Sea. 

The Stena Embla departing from Belfast, photographed by Luke Wilson.

Freightlink have the Irish Sea covered

As one of the busiest sea zones in Europe, the Irish Sea is an essential trade point for businesses across Ireland and Great Britain. 

Nobody knows this better than Joanne, our Area Sales Manager for Ireland. 

“Working in transport and logistics, no two days are the same, and things happen that are out of everyone’s control… but being able to adapt and deal with these issues means you can still get the job done, without being stressed about it.”

Joanne joined us back in 2022 and has since helped many businesses overcome these challenges to ensure that their goods arrive at their destination on time. But Joanne doesn’t just help businesses overcome transport hurdles. 

“I maintain good working relationships with the ferry operators to allow us to obtain competitive rates and allocations.”

Thousands of large, medium and small businesses choose us as their freight ferry ticket agent. We’re always finding new ways to better serve our customers - including sourcing industry-leading rates, providing customs and abnormal loads support, and providing convenient transport solutions. 

To find out how we can help your business, get in touch with our freight ferry booking experts today.