In 2024, work began by Cork native and former DFDS Seaways Ireland co-founder Aidan Coffey to establish a new ferry link between Cork and Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, under a new operator named Hibernia Line. Significant investment in the project was announced in March 2026, when Laurence Goodman, chairman of ABP Food Group, joined as an investor.
Also in March 2026, Tallink announced that Superfast IX had been chartered to an unnamed operator for an initial three-year period, with options to extend the agreement by a further two years and to purchase the vessel outright. The ship was subsequently renamed St Patrick and reflagged to Cyprus on 1 May.
Hibernia Line was officially launched at events in Ringaskiddy and Boulogne on 7 May 2026, with the inaugural sailing scheduled for 15 May. A second vessel, Akka, was also chartered from TT-Line to support the launch of the service.
