It comes after P&O decided to stop operating the Dublin-Liverpool route by the end of the year from the port's Terminal 5.

P&O said that it was ending the route since there wouldn't be a berth in Merseyside for the following year.

The Port Company, with the exception of the Holyhead route, invited bids in September from interested ferry lines to serve ports on the west coast of England or Wales.

As part of a shared goods terminal arrangement, Seatruck Ferries and parent firm CLDN will further enhance its Dublin-UK services following the selection process.

Mid-February sees the launch of Stena Line's new freight route between Dublin and Birkenhead, while the following month, Seatruck Ferries will relocate its Dublin-Heysham freight service within Dublin Port to Terminal 5.

“For Irish importers and exporters, this is fantastic news. Belfast to Birkenhead is already served by Stena,” Dublin Port's Head of Commercial Cormac Kennedy told Morning Ireland.

“I think the important thing for exporters and importers is that we've managed to maintain choice, both on the Dublin-Holyhead-Heysham routes, and it combines well with the existing competitive routes that operate on Dublin-Holyhead,” he said.

At the beginning, Stena will only run one ship, but they want to add more when demand calls for it.

“Seatruck Ferries now has the chance to operate at least four sailings each day in both directions. This offers the route's users a lot of options,” Mr. Kennedy stated.

There were two P&O boats that operated 24 weekly sailings on the Dublin-Liverpool route.

The primary purpose of it was to move cargo between the UK and Ireland.

“DPC’s decision to award a shared licence to both Stena Line and Seatruck Ferries at Terminal 5 maximises the port’s existing infrastructure by pushing more truck and container freight through the terminal’s footprint,” the Port Company stated in a statement.

It further stated that, with Dublin Port already operating at almost capacity, the action supports its goal of increasing capacity wherever it is feasible given the limitations on port lands.

According to Dublin Port Company CEO Barry O'Connell, “strong availability and competition on direct shipping routes between Dublin Port and the UK is essential for Ireland's economy.”

“We are pleased to welcome Stena Line’s new Dublin-Birkenhead route which brings choice to the market, and to continue working with Seatruck Ferries and CLDN on growing its Dublin-Heysham service.”

Currently, Stena Line runs from Belfast to Holyhead and from Dublin Port to Birkenhead.

It states that these current routes will be enhanced by this new service.

Paul Grant, Trade Director (Irish Sea) at Stena Line, stated: “With Stena Line now operating two routes out of both Dublin Port and Birkenhead, we are establishing key logistics hubs connecting freight flows across the Irish Sea and creating efficiencies for port users.”

“We are confident that this new service will prove popular, offering more choice for our goods customers on both sides of the Irish Sea,” he stated.

Seatruck Ferries expressed its eagerness to expand its collaboration with the Dublin Port Company.

According to Seatruck Ferries' Managing Director Alistair Eagles, “the use of both Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 will enable us to not only further increase capacity but also to optimise the efficiency of our operations at the port.”