Irish Continental Group plc (ICG), owner of Irish Ferries, published a trading update on 7 May covering the first four months of 2026. While tourist-car carryings dipped 2.9 % year-on-year to 135,200, roll-on/roll-off freight units jumped 5.2 % to 270,900, underscoring the continuing strength of post-Brexit land-bridge alternatives between Ireland, Britain and continental Europe. Group revenue rose 13.9 % to €215.9 million, buoyed by fuel-surcharge pass-throughs and the full inclusion of maritime emissions under the EU Emissions Trading System. Management acknowledged that Gulf-related fuel-price spikes are a headwind but emphasised a flexible surcharge mechanism that resets monthly for freight clients—important intelligence for supply-chain planners budgeting relocations or plant moves. On passenger routes Dublin–Holyhead and Dublin–Cherbourg, capacity remains stable following fleet investments such as the fast-ferry James Joyce delivered earlier this year. However, ICG warned that if energy prices stay elevated, upward pressure on summer fares is likely. For global-mobility teams the numbers confirm a resilient sea-bridge market for moving household goods and commercial cargo into Ireland, even as leisure demand shows signs of plateauing. Employers moving staff between Ireland and the UK should lock in crossing dates early and expect moderate surcharge adjustments through Q3. ICG’s solid balance sheet—net debt trimmed to €128.9 million pre-IFRS 16—suggests further investments in greener vessels are likely, aligning with multinationals’ Scope 3 emission-reduction goals.
