Cork-Boulogne is now sailing – could Rosyth-Dunkirk be next?

Two ferry developments are making the map between Ireland, Scotland and mainland Europe a lot more interesting. One has now become reality: Hibernia Line launched its new Cork-Boulogne ferry in June 2026. The other, Rosyth-Dunkirk, remains a serious proposal that could eventually restore a direct passenger ferry between Scotland and mainland Europe.

The difference between the two projects is now important. Cork-Boulogne is operating, with six sailings per week in each direction. Rosyth-Dunkirk is not yet a confirmed ferry service, although government funding for border infrastructure has moved the project a step closer.

Update 28 August 2026: Cork-Boulogne has been sailing since 12 June 2026, operated by Hibernia Line with St Patrick and Akka. Rosyth-Dunkirk remains at development stage, with no confirmed launch date or passenger bookings yet.

What has changed?

The biggest change is Cork-Boulogne. What was still a planned route when we first wrote about it has now launched. Hibernia Line operates the service between Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour and Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France six days a week in both directions, throughout the year.

Rosyth-Dunkirk is moving more slowly. The UK Government has committed £3 million towards Border Force and Customs infrastructure at Rosyth. That is a meaningful step, but the funding remains subject to a commercial agreement between Forth Ports and a ferry operator and approval of the business case.

So the situation is now quite clear: Cork-Boulogne is a new ferry route you can actually use. Rosyth-Dunkirk is still a route to watch.

In a nutshell

• Cork-Boulogne is now operating. Hibernia Line launched the passenger and freight service between Ringaskiddy and Boulogne-sur-Mer on 12 June 2026.
• There are six sailings per week in each direction, with the service operating year-round.
• The route is operated by St Patrick and Akka, both RoPax ferries carrying passengers, vehicles and freight.
• Rosyth-Dunkirk is still a developing project. The UK Government has committed £3 million towards Border Force and Customs infrastructure at Rosyth, but there is no bookable timetable yet.
• DFDS has been involved in discussions around the Scotland-France route, but a final commercial agreement and launch date have not been announced.

Can you book these ferries?

Cork-Boulogne	Yes. The route has been operating since June 2026 and bookings are open through Hibernia Line.
Rosyth-Dunkirk	No. This route is still at project and development stage. There is government support, but no confirmed timetable, vessel or booking platform.

Cork-Boulogne: Ireland’s newest ferry to France

Hibernia Line now operates a direct passenger and freight ferry between Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour and Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France.

The service launched on 12 June 2026 and now runs six times per week in both directions. Hibernia Line describes it as a year-round service rather than a seasonal summer route.

Ireland already has several direct ferry routes to France, including Rosslare-Cherbourg, Rosslare-Dunkirk, Dublin-Cherbourg and Cork-Roscoff. We compare those options in our guide to ferries from Ireland to France.

What makes Cork-Boulogne particularly interesting is the arrival point. Boulogne sits in northern France, close to Calais and within relatively easy reach of Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany.

For travellers starting in southern Ireland and continuing towards northern France or Benelux, that creates a very different route choice from arriving in Brittany or Normandy.

Cork-Boulogne route block

Route	Ringaskiddy, Cork to Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France
Operator	Hibernia Line
Ships	St Patrick and Akka
Type of ferry	RoPax ferries carrying passengers, vehicles and freight
Started	12 June 2026
Frequency	Six sailings per week in each direction
Operation	Year-round
Best for	Southern Ireland to northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and parts of western Germany
Status	Operating and bookable

Hibernia Line currently accepts cars, motorhomes, caravans and motorcycles. Foot passengers are planned, but the operator says dedicated foot-passenger fares are not generally available for booking yet.

Which ferries operate Cork-Boulogne?

Earlier industry reports linked SUPERFAST IX and Akka to the proposed route. That uncertainty has now disappeared: Hibernia Line operates the service with St Patrick and Akka.

Both are RoPax ferries, designed to carry passengers, vehicles and freight. That combination is important for a long-distance route like this, where freight demand can help support the service throughout the year while passengers get cabins and onboard facilities for the overnight journey.

Hibernia Line’s current timetable has the two vessels alternating between Cork and Boulogne throughout the week. Sailing times vary by departure, so it is worth checking your exact date rather than relying on one standard crossing time.

Why Cork-Boulogne could be useful for travellers

For many Irish travellers, the established ferry routes to France still make more sense. Cork-Roscoff is particularly useful for Brittany, while Rosslare-Cherbourg works well for Normandy and western France. Rosslare-Dunkirk is already a strong option for northern France and onward travel towards Belgium and the Netherlands.

Cork-Boulogne adds another combination: a southern Irish departure port with a northern French arrival. That can be especially useful if Cork is convenient at the start of your journey but your destination lies much further north or east on the Continent.

It works the other way too. Travellers from northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands now have another way to reach southern Ireland without travelling through Britain.

Rosyth-Dunkirk: Scotland back on the ferry map to Europe?

The second story is the proposed Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry.

This route is not yet confirmed, but it remains one of the more interesting ferry projects in northern Europe. If it goes ahead, it would restore a direct passenger ferry between Scotland and mainland Europe for the first time in around fifteen years.

The UK Government announced a £3 million commitment in March 2026 towards Border Force and Customs infrastructure at Rosyth. The funding is subject to a commercial agreement between Forth Ports and a ferry operator, as well as approval of the business case. You can read the UK Government announcement here.

DFDS has been involved in discussions around the project, alongside Forth Ports and the Port of Dunkirk. However, there is still no confirmed passenger timetable, vessel or booking date.

Rosyth-Dunkirk route block

Route	Rosyth, Scotland to Dunkirk, northern France
Operator	DFDS has been involved in discussions around the project
Type of ferry	Proposed passenger and freight service
Crossing time	Around 20 hours has been discussed in earlier plans
Frequency	Three sailings per week has previously been proposed
Launch date	Not confirmed
Status	Government infrastructure support announced, but still dependent on commercial agreement and business-case approval

Why Rosyth-Dunkirk would matter

For Scottish travellers, the route would solve a very different problem from Cork-Boulogne.

There is currently no direct passenger ferry from Scotland to mainland Europe. For many travellers, Newcastle-Amsterdam is the nearest major international passenger ferry, while routes from Hull, Harwich, Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth require an even longer drive south.

A Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry could allow travellers to board close to Edinburgh and arrive directly in northern France, with Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and much of France within easy onward reach.

Earlier Scottish Government discussions referred to a possible freight and passenger service operating three times per week with a crossing of around 20 hours. Those figures remain useful context, but should not yet be treated as a confirmed timetable.

One route is sailing, one is still a proposal

The two stories have now reached very different stages.

Cork-Boulogne has made the jump from proposal to operating ferry route. It now gives travellers another direct choice between Ireland and France and is particularly interesting because of the combination of Cork and northern France.

Rosyth-Dunkirk remains a credible but conditional proposal. Government support and discussions with the ports and DFDS give it more substance than a simple route idea, but there is still a substantial difference between funding infrastructure and having a ferry on the booking system.

That distinction matters with new ferry projects. Ports, border facilities, freight contracts, vessels and timetables all have to come together before a proposed line becomes something passengers can actually use.

For now, Cork-Boulogne is here. Rosyth-Dunkirk is still one to watch.

Useful sources

• Hibernia Line – Cork-Boulogne route announcement and service details
• GOV.UK – £3 million commitment towards the Rosyth-Dunkirk project
• FerryGoGo – Cork-Boulogne ferry route
• FerryGoGo – compare ferries from Ireland to France

Last updated: 28 August 2026. Cork-Boulogne is now operating. Rosyth-Dunkirk remains a proposed route and is not yet bookable.