Finnlines has announced an expansion of its freight service between Rosslare Europort and Zeebrugge, Belgium, with the addition of a second ro-ro vessel that will increase weekly sailings from two to three in each direction.
The company said that M/S Lismore will join M/S Finnwave on the route starting in week 22, with its first departure from Zeebrugge scheduled for 28 May 2026. The enhanced schedule will provide additional freight capacity on the direct Ireland–Continental Europe connection.
M/S Lismore has a cargo capacity of 4,076 lane metres, while M/S Finnwave offers 4,192 lane metres. Both can carry approximately 260 trailers and accommodate up to 12 drivers.
Demand on the route had been “steadily increasing,” according to Umberto Raimo, deputy line manager at Finnlines. The enhanced schedule will provide greater freight capacity on the direct Ireland–Continental Europe connection.
The expanded schedule from Zeebrugge to Rosslare offers departures on Tuesday at 23:30 (arriving Thursday 04:30), Thursday at 20:30 (arriving Saturday 04:30), and Saturday at 15:00 (arriving Sunday 20:00). From Rosslare to Zeebrugge, departures are on Monday at 03:00 (arriving Tuesday 11:30), Thursday at 22:00 (arriving Saturday 06:00), and Saturday at 14:00 (arriving Sunday 23:59).
M/S Lismore operates under a weekend charter agreement with P&O Ferries, allowing Finnlines to maximise vessel utilisation while maintaining its core weekday schedule. Stewart Hayes, P&O Ferries fleet director, confirmed the company is working with Finnlines on the deal.
The expansion was made possible through close cooperation with terminals in Rosslare and Zeebrugge, as well as support from customers, Juha Anjala, traffic manager at Finnlines, said.
Finnlines launched the Rosslare–Zeebrugge route on 23 July 2022 in response to post-Brexit demand for direct freight connections between Ireland and Continental Europe. It was initially operated by the ro-ro vessel Finnpulp, which had a cargo capacity of 3,259 lane meters.
Finnpulp was replaced by M/S Finnsun in mid-September 2022, and later by M/S Finnwave in November 2022. In February 2023, Finnpulp returned as a second vessel on the route, providing six sailings per week.
The addition of a second vessel reflects “strong and growing demand” for direct European connections, according to Philip O’Brien, general manager of Rosslare Europort.
Through transhipment in Zeebrugge, the Rosslare service connects Ireland with Finland, Poland, the UK, Spain, and the wider Grimaldi Group network.