Cork, May 7, 2026, 19:06 (Irish Standard Time)
- Hibernia Line is now taking bookings for its new Cork-to-Boulogne ferry route, set to launch mid-June and operate all year.
- The Cork-based operator plans six sailings each way per week, with both passengers and freight on board.
- Direct Ireland-to-mainland Europe capacity gets a boost with the launch, as hauliers and holidaymakers eye fuel prices, port congestion, and the headaches of summer travel disruption.
On Thursday, Hibernia Line kicked off bookings for its new ferry service connecting Ringaskiddy, Cork and Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France. The route, running six days a week from mid-June, brings another direct option for passengers and freight traveling between Ireland and mainland Europe.
This shift comes just ahead of the busy summer travel rush and as firms look for more reliable ways into Europe, skipping the UK landbridge—the road-and-ferry corridor through Britain that’s gotten trickier for many since Brexit. Hibernia Line, for its part, projects annual passenger numbers to top 250,000.
Two ships—St Patrick and MV Akka—will handle the route, offering six crossings each way every week. According to Hibernia, Cork departures are slated for 9 p.m., and the Boulogne-sur-Mer sailings will head out at 10 p.m. CET. The crossing clocks in at roughly 21 and a half hours.
Hibernia founder and CEO Aidan Coffey described the route as focused on “consistency, frequency and a service that works for both freight and passengers.” Coffey added that Hibernia structured its schedules to minimize “port congestion, capacity constraints and delays,” sharpening its attention on driver welfare and what’s offered onboard. Business Wire
Speaking to the Irish Times, Coffey said Hibernia doesn’t face the same fuel supply problems that airlines or home heating oil users are dealing with. “We operate on a different fuel altogether,” he said. He also noted the company had been given assurances there’s no issue with supply. The Irish Times
Backed by the Goodman Group, the Cork-based company is adding up to 250 jobs right away in both Ireland and France—roughly 200 of those are crew positions. Hibernia said a portion of the roles will be filled by cadets out of the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy.
The Irish Examiner put the investment at over €20 million, adding that Hibernia plans to begin service June 12. Coffey—who holds a minority stake—previously co-founded DFDS Seaways Ireland, the company behind the Rosslare-Dunkirk ferry route that started up in 2021.
The new route bumps up lane capacity heading into northern France. Hibernia puts St Patrick’s tally at 2,200 lane metres—essentially, that’s the stretch of deck available for vehicles. Over on the MV Akka, there’s room for 2,500 lane metres, covering both freight and passenger traffic.
Passengers can expect cabins, lounges, dining spaces, pet zones, accessible features, a kids’ play area, and gaming rooms onboard. Hibernia lists 193 cabins for St Patrick and 227 for MV Akka, each ship handling over 600 passengers per sailing.
The route offers Cork another, albeit longer, option to reach France beyond the usual choices. Brittany Ferries’ Cork-Roscoff run clocks in at about 14 to 15 hours. Irish Ferries takes 18 to 20 hours on its Dublin-Cherbourg route. Brittany Ferries is also behind the Rosslare-Cherbourg and Rosslare-Bilbao sailings. Stena Line exited its Rosslare-Cherbourg link last autumn.
Seán Canney, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, said the new link is set to boost both passenger travel and freight capacity, easing the load on existing ports and, in his words, supporting “more resilient supply chains.” French Ambassador to Ireland Céline Place added that the service would expand ferry connections between Ireland and France, simplifying journeys to Ireland’s nearest EU neighbour. Business Wire
Risks are clear. This service steps into a market where ferry operators have to keep both cabins and freight decks occupied throughout the year—not only in the busy summer months. The Cork-Boulogne route? Longer than a handful of rival crossings to France. Fuel prices, port reliability, and whether hauliers are willing to shift their routines in large numbers will all shape how fast this route establishes itself.
The Boulogne-Calais port site now shows Hibernia Line running six sailings a week from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Cork, with bookings open for motor vehicles—cars, motorcycles, campervans, coaches. But, according to the port notice, no pedestrians or cyclists are allowed on board.
