Ireland-based Hibernia Line will officially launch a new ferry service connecting Cork and northern France next week, with six weekly sailings in each direction starting this summer, according to reporting in the Irish Examiner.

Hibernia Line will operate six evening departures per week in both directions between Ringaskiddy and Boulogne-sur-Mer, providing year-round direct connectivity. The service will cater for passengers and freight, with the first services commencing in the middle of June 2026.

Boulogne-sur-Mer is a gateway to France's Côte d'Opale, a popular stretch of coastline with tourists from northern Europe and the UK, with Boulogne-sur-Mer just 50 kilometres across the sea to Dover in England.

The new route provides direct maritime connectivity between southern Ireland and northern France, supporting both tourism and freight movements without requiring transit through UK ports. Cork's Ringaskiddy port serves as a key gateway for passenger and freight traffic serving the Munster region and southern Ireland.

Year-round operation indicates the service will support commercial freight operators requiring consistent cross-channel capacity alongside seasonal passenger traffic during peak tourism periods. Evening departures enable overnight crossings with arrival times supporting onward travel into France and across continental Europe.

The Cork-Boulogne-sur-Mer route complements existing ferry services from Irish ports to France including Rosslare-Cherbourg and Rosslare-Dunkirk, expanding direct maritime options for Irish exporters and importers whilst providing additional passenger travel choices avoiding UK land bridge routes.

Hibernia Line's service launch reflects growing demand for direct Ireland-France connectivity supporting supply chain resilience and tourism recovery following periods of disrupted cross-channel transport capacity and evolving trade patterns between Ireland and continental European markets.

Read the complete report of Hibernia Line's Cork to Boulogne-sur-Mer ferry service launch scheduled for June 2026.