Key facts
- A new overnight ferry service has launched between Cork, Ireland, and Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
- This route restores international passenger ferry services to Boulogne-sur-Mer for the first time in 15 years.
- The service is operated by Hibernia Line and aims to boost tourism and trade.
- It provides an alternative travel option to continental Europe that bypasses the UK.
- Two vessels, St Patrick and Akka, with capacity for 600 passengers and 130 freight units each, are in use.
A new overnight ferry service connecting Cork in Ireland with Boulogne-sur-Mer in France has commenced operations, marking the return of international passenger ferry links to the northern French port after a 15-year absence. Operated by Hibernia Line, the route is expected to bolster tourism and trade between the two nations and offers travelers an alternative to passing through the United Kingdom.
The service will run six times daily from Monday to Saturday in both directions. Ferries depart Cork at 21:00 GMT and Boulogne-sur-Mer at 22:00 GMT, with journey times of approximately 21 hours, extending to 24 hours on Saturday nights. The Mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Frédéric Cuvillier, expressed his satisfaction with the launch, calling it the culmination of years of work.
Two vessels, named St Patrick and Akka, are deployed on the route, each capable of carrying 600 passengers and 130 freight units. The ferries can accommodate cars and other vehicles, and will begin accepting foot passengers from July 1. The increasing popularity of Ireland-France ferry routes is partly attributed to companies seeking to bypass the UK for goods transport due to post-Brexit complications. Other operators like Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries, and DFDS also run services between the two countries.
Non-EU citizens arriving in Boulogne-sur-Mer should be aware of potential Entry/Exit System (EES) requirements, as Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area.