Port of Cork announces first Cork to New York service

A huge milestone in Cork’s global connections

Simon Smith, General Manager, CMA CGM Ireland; Ann Doherty, CEO, Port of Cork Company, and Cathal McSweeney, Director of Public and International Affairs, Cork Chamber(Image: OSM)

The Port of Cork has announced a significant milestone – a new weekly service between Cork and New York. The new connection will go a long way in strengthening Irish-US trade and employment in Ireland.

The new connection will be a game-changer for the Irish export and import markets, with Cork a crucial port of call for French logistics giant CMA CGM and its transatlantic Panama Direct service.

It will be a direct link between Cork and key US East Coast ports, including New York and Savannah in Georgia. For Irish shipping, it will significantly reduce transit times by eliminating the need for feeder connections through other European hub ports.

Cargo can now reach New York in approximately nine days and Savannah in around 11 days, delivering faster and more efficient access to the vital US market.

It is a “major enhancement in Ireland’s international shipping connectivity,” a Port spokesperson said. The inaugural departure was yesterday, as the MV CMA CGM LOUGA container vessel set sail from Cork for the first time.

Ann Doherty, CEO of the Port of Cork Company, said: “This announcement positions Cork at the heart of transatlantic trade and will benefit our region’s top exporters and importers, highlighting the Port’s growing capacity.”

The MV Louga departed the Port of Cork for the first time this week

“It is part of our strategy to continue to support jobs and industry throughout Cork and the wider Munster region by improving shipping service options and supply chain reliability for the Irish market. We are also helping to diversify national trade options, and the addition spotlights Cork’s role as a Tier-1 port of national significance, boosting the region’s attractiveness as an investment destination.”

Simon Smith, General Manager of CMA CGM Ireland, added: “This direct solution is designed to deliver a premium experience to the Irish market and our customers. To further strengthen this service, an additional vessel will be deployed, helping us achieve our enhanced reliability and frequency objectives.”

Cathal McSweeney, Director of Public and International Affairs at Cork Chamber, said the direct service is “a significant milestone for Cork and for Ireland’s international trade connectivity. Efficient global connections are critical to supporting business growth, enabling exporters to compete at scale and strengthening our attractiveness as a location for investment.

“For Cork’s strong base of indigenous and multinational companies across pharmaceuticals, medtech, technology and advanced manufacturing, enhanced direct access to key US markets is a major competitive advantage. This announcement further reinforces Cork’s position as a leading international business location and economic engine for the south of Ireland.”

Ireland’s only other direct container shipping route between Ireland and the United States is offered at the Port of Cork by Independent Container Line (ICL).