New Swansea freight ferry to set sail

A new freight-ferry service between Cork and Swansea is to set sail after the main passenger service suspended operations for this year.

HJ Lines, operated by Hugh Johnson who runs Air Cargo Wales, will re-establish links between the ports next month.

He said the three sailings a week would fill a gap in the “lucrative” haulage trade link left by the withdrawal of Swansea Cork Ferries, who had to axe the service after a deal for a new vessel fell through.

It laid off 30 staff but said it hoped to resume sailings in 2008.

Since it was launched in 1987, the service had carried more than three million passengers and their cars, plus some freight traffic.

Mr Johnson said his service would run from Swansea every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday starting on March 20, and will carry 12 drivers and 65 trailers.

“The route between Swansea and Cork is a well-established one, particularly for passenger traffic,” he said.

“There is, however, growing demand for increased freight capacity and I am keen to exploit and develop this lucrative trade link.”

John Fitzgerald, director of Associated British Ports’ (APB) south Wales ports, said that he was hopeful a passenger service would also be resumed.

“This is great news for Swansea — with his 30 years of international freight-forwarding experience, I am confident Hugh Johnson will successfully develop this trade route.

“APB continues to work to re-establish tourist traffic between the ports of Swansea and Cork.”

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.