Editing Rosslare Europort (section)

==Brexit== 
Rosslare Europort's strategic importance to Ireland for freight transport has increased following Brexit as it offers direct routes from Ireland to continental Europe, offering an alternative to using the UK "landbridge" (a ferry from Ireland to [[Great Britain]], then a drive through Great Britain to an English port before sailing on to the European mainland).<ref name="rte.ie"/> In 2020, around 3,000 lorries took the British landbridge route from Ireland to mainland Europe each week.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-ireland/stena-line-brings-forward-doubling-of-ireland-france-freight-route-idUSL1N2J10RU/ Stena Line brings forward doubling of Ireland-France freight route] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221180439/https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-ireland/stena-line-brings-forward-doubling-of-ireland-france-freight-route-idUSL1N2J10RU |date=21 December 2020 }} www.reuters.com, 21 December 2020.</ref>  

The importance of the Rosslare direct routes was dramatically highlighted following the confusion and disruption in the southeast of [[England]] after France closed its border to freight from the UK on 20 December 2020, leaving up to 250 Irish trucks stranded in Britain trying to access mainland Europe using the landbridge to the continent.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/1221/1185721-coronavirus-transport/ Stena Line introducing second vessel on French route] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225134156/https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/1221/1185721-coronavirus-transport/ |date=25 December 2020 }} www.rte.ie, 21 December 2020.</ref> Rosslare reduces pressure on [[Dublin Port]] by offering direct routes to Europe as an alternative to the British landbridge.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/1230/1186986-dublin-port-brexit/ Dublin Port warns of potential delays due to Brexit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230232223/https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/1230/1186986-dublin-port-brexit/ |date=30 December 2020 }} www.rte.ie, 30 December 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/brexit-begins-to-bite-as-range-of-firms-warn-of-trade-issues-39946442.html Brexit begins to bite as range of firms warn of trade issues. Issues with food items, parcel delays and extra costs flagged by businesses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113215304/https://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/brexit-begins-to-bite-as-range-of-firms-warn-of-trade-issues-39946442.html |date=13 January 2021 }} www.independent.ie 10 January 2021</ref>  

Since then, demand for roll-on, roll-off lorry freight on direct routes from Rosslare to mainland Europe has surged as at least 150,000 lorries cross every year from Ireland to mainland Europe, hitherto mostly via Britain as the cheapest and fastest route before Brexit.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/demand-for-post-brexit-direct-sailings-to-europe-surges-1.4447661 Demand for post-Brexit direct sailings to Europe surges] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230203236/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/demand-for-post-brexit-direct-sailings-to-europe-surges-1.4447661 |date=30 December 2020 }} www.IrishTimes.com, 30 December 2020.</ref> An example is the temporary deployment of the new Stena Line [[Belfast]]-[[Liverpool]] Stena Embla ferry to the Rosslare Cherbourg route.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55655631 Stena Line's new Belfast ferry moves to Rosslare in 'Brexit busting move'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114151928/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55655631 |date=14 January 2021 }} BBC News 13 January 2021 www.bbc.com</ref>

However some Brexit-related changes are permanent and introduce cumbersome, time-consuming and costly administrative procedures.  They do not appear to have easy short-term solutions. <ref>[https://today.rtl.lu/news/business-and-tech/a/1662737.html "After Brexit, Irish port becomes new gateway to EU"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129200001/https://today.rtl.lu/news/business-and-tech/a/1662737.html |date=29 January 2021 }} www.rtl.lu 29 January 2021</ref> Irish logistics companies using the UK Landbridge post-Brexit are facing new frictions affecting cross-border trade as they cross from the UK to the European mainland, just as if they were British, as they must now complete customs declarations and export health certificates that were not required when the UK was a member of the EU.<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/8/in-post-brexit-uk-quiet-ports-hide-mounting-transport-chaos  In post-Brexit UK, quiet ports hide mounting transport chaos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115113657/https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/8/in-post-brexit-uk-quiet-ports-hide-mounting-transport-chaos |date=15 January 2021 }} Aljazeera 8 January 2021 www.aljazeera.com</ref>  

In addition, Irish companies using the UK landbridge now have to complete Entry Summary Declarations (ENS)<ref>[https://www.xeneta.com/blog/what-is-ens-and-why-is-there-an-ens-charge  What is ENS and Why is There an ENS Charge? ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411061356/https://www.xeneta.com/blog/what-is-ens-and-why-is-there-an-ens-charge |date=11 April 2021 }} www.xeneta.com</ref><ref>[https://www.gov.uk/export-goods Export goods from the UK: step by step ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118100848/https://www.gov.uk/export-goods |date=18 January 2021 }} Official UK Government website 30 December  2020 www.gov.uk</ref> and PBN (Pre-Boarding Notification) declarations.<ref>[https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/customs-electronic-systems/customs-roro-service/pre-boarding-notification.aspx  Pre-Boarding notification (PBN)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112130150/https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/customs-electronic-systems/customs-roro-service/pre-boarding-notification.aspx |date=12 January 2021 }} Revenue Irish Tax and Customs official website 30 December  2020 www.revenue.ie</ref>  Use of the Landbridge route also raises potential problems such as sanitary and [[phytosanitary inspection]]s, UK export licenses for certain products, [[rules of origin]] difficulties, commodity classification code issues, the need to obtain an [[EORI number]] and possible UK [[VAT]] issues.

Companies using the direct Rosslare routes to the EU are obviously not subject to these onerous, time-consuming procedures which require heavy investment in new IT and trained staff. The complete absence of Brexit-related delays and formalities at Rosslare is of crucial importance.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/56201463 "Brexit: Why Irish freight trade is avoiding Britain"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308045829/https://www.bbc.com/news/56201463 |date=8 March 2021 }} www.bbc.com 4 March 2021</ref> Market forces, and issues such as customs checks and sanitary and phytosanitary checks will determine the future of the UK Landbridge and the comparative attractiveness of Rosslare.<ref>[https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/602071/World/Europe/Ireland-to-bypass-post-Brexit-Britain-with-more-direct-sea-routes-to-Europe Ireland to bypass post-Brexit Britain with more direct sea routes to Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112091343/https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/602071/World/Europe/Ireland-to-bypass-post-Brexit-Britain-with-more-direct-sea-routes-to-Europe |date=12 January 2021 }} [[Saudi Gazette]] 2 January 2021</ref>

In January 2021 there was a 446 per cent increase in freight volumes on the direct routes to the European mainland compared with the same month in 2020. At the same time, UK freight volumes moving through the port fell by half.  Overall freight volumes in January 2021 were 45 per cent higher than in January 2020 as a result of "unprecedented demand" for the new direct services operating between Rosslare and mainland Europe, as transport companies navigate the twin challenges posed by Brexit and the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/business/brexit-delivers-record-freight-for-rosslare-on-ferries-to-mainland-eu-1.4472331 Brexit delivers record freight for Rosslare on ferries to mainland EU: Southeast port boosted by fivefold increase in freight in January on continental sailings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131165358/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/brexit-delivers-record-freight-for-rosslare-on-ferries-to-mainland-eu-1.4472331 |date=31 January 2021 }} [[Irish Times]]  31 January 2021 www.irishtimes.com</ref><ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0131/1194166-rosslare-freight/ January freight traffic up 45% at Rosslare Europort, European freight up 446% year-on-year Brexit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131173922/https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0131/1194166-rosslare-freight/ |date=31 January 2021 }} [[RTÉ]]  1 February 2021 www.rte.ie</ref>

For January and February 2021, UK freight traffic decreased about 43 per cent but overall freight through Rosslare Europort, (both UK and Europe combined) increased by 51 per cent.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/19/irish-trucks-taking-route-around-the-uk-to-avoid-brexit-red-tape.html Irish trucking firms are taking the pricier route around the UK to avoid Brexit red tape] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516070723/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/19/irish-trucks-taking-route-around-the-uk-to-avoid-brexit-red-tape.html |date=16 May 2021 }} www.CNBC.com 19 April 2021</ref> Figures from the Irish Central Statistics Office show that overall imports from Britain to Ireland fell by more than half in the first two months of 2021 but that Irish exports were not as badly affected; the value of imports from Britain in January and February 2021 was €1.2bn, a decrease of 57% compared to the same period in 2020 while Irish exports to Britain fell by 12% or €249m.<ref>[https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40287554.html Most imports passing Dublin and Rosslare checks but full impact of Brexit not yet clear] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516070721/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40287554.html |date=16 May 2021 }} www.IrishExaminer.com 12 May 2021</ref> 

Brexit-related difficulties also affect imports from the UK or from the EU using the UK Landbridge, as was reported to an [[Seanad Éireann|Irish Senate]] [[Seanad Brexit Committee|Brexit Committee]] hearing.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/port-chiefs-poised-for-post-brexit-disruption-to-exports-1.4485747 Port chiefs poised for post-Brexit disruption to exports Haulage industry group warns of potential shortages due to checks on food imports] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227193219/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/port-chiefs-poised-for-post-brexit-disruption-to-exports-1.4485747 |date=27 February 2021 }} Irish Times 15 February 2021</ref>  Dublin Port faced Brexit-related issues as regards EU goods coming into Ireland via the UK landbridge.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/its-a-shambles-hauliers-warn-of-food-shortages-as-brexit-causes-delays-at-dublin-port-39974763.html ‘It's a shambles’ – Hauliers warn of food shortages as Brexit causes delays at Dublin Port] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116094808/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/its-a-shambles-hauliers-warn-of-food-shortages-as-brexit-causes-delays-at-dublin-port-39974763.html |date=16 January 2021 }} Independent.ie  16 January 2021 www.independent.ie</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55675543  Brexit: Dublin Port 'minefield' leaves trucks stranded] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115155833/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55675543 |date=15 January 2021 }} BBC News 15 January 2021 www.bbc.com</ref>

Despite the huge increase in sailings in 2021, the surge in demand has already showed the need for even more services.  This had been predicted just before Brexit by the Irish Road Haulage Assocìation to a hearing of the [[Oireachtas]] Joint Committee on Transport, particularly as regards time-sensitive loads such as food but also as regards insufficient capacity generally even with the new services.<ref>[https://afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/48746-hauliers-fear-full-direct-ferries-to-eu-if-brexit-checks-block-uk-routes "Fear from Hauliers of Full Direct Ferries to EU if Brexit Checks Block UK routes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305141724/https://afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/48746-hauliers-fear-full-direct-ferries-to-eu-if-brexit-checks-block-uk-routes |date=5 March 2021 }} www.afloat.ie 18 December 2020</ref>  One user, [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], is now routinely sending around 20 trailers on every sailing from Dunkirk to service the Irish market and "to avoid the complications, tariffs, taxes and general headaches that have now become associated with the 'landbridge' between the UK and Ireland".<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/rosslare-europort-is-in-the-midst-of-an-amazonian-influx-40127343.html Rosslare Europort is in the midst of an Amazonian influx!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227092715/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/rosslare-europort-is-in-the-midst-of-an-amazonian-influx-40127343.html |date=27 February 2021 }} www.independent.ie 27 February 2021</ref>  Already the port has instituted a system of standby prebooking due to demand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/news/farming-news/sea-freight-nightmare-pushing-haulage-sector-to-the-brink-39963456.html |title="Sea freight 'nightmare' pushing haulage sector to the brink" {{!}} Irish Independent 13 January 2021 |date=13 January 2021 |access-date=8 March 2021 |archive-date=13 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113145640/https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/news/farming-news/sea-freight-nightmare-pushing-haulage-sector-to-the-brink-39963456.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  Glenn Carr, Port General Manager, intends to meet demand by turning the port into a 24-hour facility. He told a RTE interview "We still have availability; we're not 24 hours at the moment. We do intend going 24 hours, we're working with the shipping lines around extra capacity and extra berthing slots being available and we'll certainly be in a position to welcome more sailings into the port going forward."<ref name="RTE">[https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2021/0211/1196595-amazon-europort/ Increase in Amazon freight from EU through Rosslare] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313011756/https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2021/0211/1196595-amazon-europort/ |date=13 March 2021 }} www.rte.ie 11 February 2021</ref>