The port of Rosslare Europort and Cobelfret have announced a new weekly service between Zeebrugge in Belgium and Rotterdam to Rosslare, commencing on Friday 17^th October next.

This new service brings the total number of direct shipping services to the continent to 4:

• LD Lines from Rosslare to Le Havre
• Irish Ferries to Le Havre
• Celtic Link to Cherbourg
• Cobelfret to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.

John Whelan, CEO of the Irish Exporters Association, stated:

“The introduction of the new service will help underpin the need to reduce the reliance on transiting the UK with Irish trucks and the carbon emission issues this gives rise to. In an increasingly environmental world, any shipping routes that help the process of “greening” the supply chain is very welcome.”

The €8 million investment programme underway in Rosslare, which includes new link-spans to berth 2 and doubling capacity of the unaccompanied trailer compound, is strongly welcomed by the IEA.

John Whelan, CEO of the IEA, concluded by saying:

“With the growth in new class Ro-Ro ships in recent years such as the Humbermax, it is essential that there is continued investment in Irish ports, such as that at Rosslare, to ensure a competitive supply link for our exports. In these very tough economic times , manufacturing exporters rely even more heavily on getting a competitive advantage through a comprehensive range of fast reliable routes to market .

• For commercial enquiries about the Cobelfret service Zeebrugge/Rotterdam/Rosslare Europort: http://www.cobelfret.com/sailing_schedules.html
• And for other information about services to & from Rosslare Europort: http://www.rosslare.ie/

END.

For further information contact:

John Whelan, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association

Tel: (01) 661 2182

Email: jfwhelan@irishexporters.ie

About the Irish Exporters Association (IEA)

The IEA represents the needs of export industry ensuring that the necessary conditions are created and the necessary support is provided to assist companies to maximise their export sales. The IEA draws its membership from every exporting sector, ensuring that the interests of all industries are represented and promoted at the highest level.

www.irishexporters.ie