The inaugural fast shipping service between North America and Ireland, a collaboration between Atlantic Container Line (ACL) and BG Freight Line (BGFL), has made its first port calls to Dublin and Belfast.
The two shipping lines have joined forces to offer exporters and importers in Ireland and Northern Ireland the fastest transatlantic access to North America.
“Today sees a real breakthrough with our new transatlantic freight services to and from Dublin and Belfast now up to two weeks faster than all other available options,” stated Andy Abbott, president and CEO of Atlantic Container Line (ACL).
ACL’s deep-sea ships connect the United States and Canada with BG Freight Line’s feeder vessels in Liverpool, the nearest deep-sea port to the Irish coast.
The new service utilizes BGFL’s sister company Peel Ports’ Liverpool container facilities and has secured berth and crane priority to ensure smooth weekly connections.
“ACL is able to achieve the faster transits because our schedule – with Liverpool as first port into Europe and last port out of Europe – gives us the fastest transatlantic service to/from the UK and Ireland. There are no intermediate European ports that add time,” added Andy Abbott.
BGFL, which regularly sails between Dublin, Belfast, and the Mersey, is coordinating its schedule with ACL to minimize connection time in Liverpool.
ACL’s Atlantic Sun departed North America on 16 May, sailing through New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Halifax before connecting in Liverpool with BGFL’s JSP Anna. The JSP Anna arrived in Dublin on 26 May and reached Belfast on 27 May.
The first westbound sailing for the new service starts immediately, with the departure of the JSP Anna from Belfast on 28 May and Dublin on 31 May. It will connect in Liverpool with the Atlantic Sea, which is scheduled to arrive in Halifax on 3 June, New York on 5 June, Baltimore on 8 June, and Norfolk on 10 June.
