Fruit group Fyffes has started the first direct shipping link between Ireland and North and South America, with the first ship in the weekly service arriving at Dublin Port yesterday.

The service is run by Fyffes Atlantic Shipping, a subsidiary of Fyffes, and the shipping company EWL (Europe West Indies Lines).

The ships will transport bananas and pineapples from South America to Dublin and will also carry Irish export cargo directly to the US, Canada, the Caribbean and South America.

Fyffes Atlantic Shipping's managing director Gerry Cunningham said Irish exporters had been seeking a direct shipping link with North and South America for many years, adding that there was substantial growth potential for the service.

The company estimates that the Republic exports the equivalent of more than 18,000 40ft containers to North America every year.

The ships are capable of carrying 250 temperature-controlled containers.