Seatruck invests €100m in expanding Northern Ireland link

Seatruck Ferries has invested €100m in increasing capacity between Lancashire's Heysham port and Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland.

By upgrading two three-deck vessels to four-deck Seatruck Precision and Seatruck Performance ferries, the freight specialist will be able to carry 30,000 additional trailers annually on the key crossing.

Seatruck will operate an 11-time weekly service from this summer, in direct response to growing demand for unaccompanied trailer space.

Alistair Eagles, chief executive of Seatruck Ferries said: “Whatever the outcome of the Brexit land border negotiations, Warrenpoint Port will continue to be a cornerstone of the Seatruck operation.

“I clearly remember watching the very first Seatruck sailing from Warrenpoint in 1996. Even back then we had a very strong belief in our business model, our service and our future strategy.

“Adding larger ships to the route is the next logical step for Seatruck and I have no doubt that it will be very popular providing more unaccompanied trailer space to our growing customer base, as the industry seeks solutions to the ongoing driver shortage.

“The larger vessels underline the need for the Southern Relief Road which will connect Warrenpoint Port directly to the main Belfast-Dublin motorway. Seatruck fully support this key piece of infrastructure.” Clare Guinness, chief executive of Warrenpoint Port said: “This is a significant investment by Seatruck Ferries and is a clear commitment to Warrenpoint Port and the wider Newry, Mourne and Down district, which will directly benefit from the increase in trade."