WEC Lines announced the launch of a direct, weekly service starting on 29 June offering short transit times that seamlessly connect Portugal and Spain with Ireland and the United Kingdom.
This new service will be operated by an 812-TEU vessel on a fixed-day schedule, departing from Bilbao on Saturdays, arriving in Dublin on Mondays, and reaching Liverpool on Tuesdays. This setup provides clients with enhanced flexibility and efficiency, including rapid last-mile delivery.
“WEC Lines has been active in the Irish market for over 30 years from Portugal and following our successful entry into the Spanish market in 2021 by connecting Bilbao to Liverpool our clients in both trades have been requesting WEC Lines to add Dublin and offer a wider product scope,” pointed out Roger Megann, managing director of WEC Lines UK.
This natural progression in WEC Lines’ services enables the Dutch carrier to further expand its trade routes between Spain, Portugal, and Liverpool, responding to client demand in both the dry and reefer markets.
By increasing frequency, speeding up transit times, and enhancing reliability, Liverpool will now be serviced twice a week, as it is also a port of call in the existing NSC UK/PT service. WEC Lines’ commitment to the Irish Sea network ensures premium service for its clients.
“We are delighted with this new upgrade and expansion of our current services, adding a weekly direct service to Dublin from Bilbao from where we connect with our sustainable, weekly rail network to inland Spain,” stated Patrick Ram, managing director of WEC Lines España.
Additionally, this strategically designed route seamlessly integrates with WEC Lines’ rail connections between Bilbao and Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Zaragoza, and Agoncillo (La Rioja), along with its existing short sea linkages with Setúbal, Leixões, Vigo, Gijón, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Casablanca, and Agadir.
Patrick Ram added, “This also creates new opportunities from Canary Islands, Gijón and Vigo in line with our goals of continuously adding value to our products and our commitment to providing the best customer service to our clients.”
| SAILING SCHEDULE | Terminal | Day |
| Bilbao | CSP | Saturday |
| Dublin | MTL | Monday |
| Liverpool | Peel Ports | Tuesday |
| Liverpool | Peel Ports | Wednesday |
| Bilbao | CSP | Saturday |
| TRANSIT TIMES | TO | FROM | ||
| Dublin | Liverpool | Dublin | Liverpool | |
| Bilbao | 2 days | 3 days | 6 days | 5 days |
| Vigo | 5 days | 6 days | 9 days | 10 days |
| Leixões | 6 days | 7 days* | 8 days | 9 days* |
| Setúbal | 7 days | 8 days* | 7 days | 8 days* |
| Gijón | 9 days | 9 days | 6 days | 4 days |
| Las Palmas de Gran Canaria | 12 days | 13 days | 9 days | 8 days |
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 12 days | 13 days | 10 days | 9 days |
| Agadir | 9 days | 9 days | 13 days | 13 days |
| Casablanca | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Barcelona | 6-7 days | 7-8 days | 8 days | 7 days |
| Madrid | 6-7 days | 7-8 days | 8 days | 7 days |
| Agoncillo | 6-7 days | 7-8 days | 8 days | 7 days |
| Valencia | 10 days | 11 days | 10 days | 9 days |
* WEC Lines services will now feature two sailings between Portugal and Liverpool: one direct route with a transit time of 4-5 days (NSC UK PT service) and the other with a transit time of 7-8 days.
