Stena Line will add an additional freight-only vessel to its Rosslare to Cherbourg route from January 4, 2021, the firm has announced.

The Stena Foreteller will join the Stena Horizon which already operates on the route, doubling the freight capacity as well as the frequency of sailings between Ireland and the continent.

The Rosslare to Cherbourg service is an increasingly important freight link between Ireland and the continent.

Stena Foreteller will provide an additional 3,000 lane metres of freight capacity per trip and can accommodate a mix of accompanied and unaccompanied traffic with onboard facilities for up to 12 freight drivers.

Commenting, Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, said: “It has become clear that there is demand for increased frequency on the Rosslare-Cherbourg service, the shortest direct crossing between Ireland and France.

“On the Irish Sea, we are very well positioned to cover the requirements of the freight and logistics sector with a choice of six routes serving Britain and Europe via landbridge or our direct crossings to France,” the CEO assured.

The firm will now provide 12 weekly crossings connecting Rosslare and Cherbourg.

Glenn Carr, general manager of Rosslare Europort, said: “We warmly welcome Stena Line’s decision to double Rosslare to Cherbourg services from the beginning of 2021.

“It reflects the strength of the partnership between Rosslare Europort and Stena Line in providing shipping solutions to Irish industry,” he added.