Ireland’s transatlantic connectivity is set to expand, with the Port of Cork securing its second direct container service to the United States, streamlining access to key markets and reducing reliance on feeder services via UK and mainland European hubs.
From late April, CMA CGM is adding a Cork call to its North Europe–North America–Oceania PAD service, providing direct links from Cork to New York and Savannah, effectively doubling the number of direct transatlantic options available from Cork and creating new routing opportunities for exporters and importers.
The PAD service will operate with a 15-vessel rotation, and follows an extensive loop connecting North Europe, Ireland, the US East Coast, the Caribbean, Oceania and back via the Panama Canal.
This new call will sit alongside the established TA1 service operated by Independent Container Line (ICL), which deploys four 3,100 TEU vessels on a rotation of Antwerp – Southampton – Cork – Philadelphia – Wilmington.
What this means for shippers
The addition of CMA CGM’s service further reduces reliance on feeder connections via the UK and mainland Europe, creating:
- Direct access to multiple US East Coast gateways
- Greater flexibility in carrier and service selection
- Potential improvements in transit times and service efficiency
- Increased resilience through diversified shipping options
While feeder services via Liverpool and other hubs remain effective, the expansion of direct calls provides an opportunity to simplify supply chains and reduce handling points.
Recent reductions in transatlantic capacity have begun to rebalance supply and demand, with some upward pressure on rates, while schedule reliability has varied significantly between carriers and services.
In contract the established ICL service has built a strong reputation for schedule reliability, while the expanded CMA CGM service will offer broader global connectivity and increased frequency.
For shippers, these options offer more choice on transit time, network reach, pricing and consistency — for informed carrier selection.
Maximising your Cork–US opportunities
Global Forwarding’s Cork office works closely with both CMA CGM and ICL, and as part of a global logistics group with significant annual freight spend, leverages substantial buying power to secure competitive rates, space protection and priority access across these and wider key carriers.
- Strategic carrier and service selection across CMA CGM, Marfret and ICL networks
- Access to both direct and feeder routing options tailored to shipment priorities
- Competitive pricing driven by group-wide purchasing strength
- End-to-end coordination across Ireland, Europe and the United States
With established operations in Cork and strong coverage across the US — including our team in New Jersey — we provide seamless, joined-up support across both origin and destination.
If you are shipping between Ireland and the United States, now is the time to reassess your routing strategy. Contact Global Forwarding to leverage our carrier relationships, buying power and local expertise to optimise your supply chain.
