Day: 27 October 2016
PR (Peel ports): EXPANSION PLANS FOR HEYSHAM WITH £10M FACILITY INVESTMENT
A new link-span bridge at the Port of Heysham is set to increase throughput at the Lancashire port by allowing it to accommodate larger RoRo vessels operating on the Irish Sea. The £10m investment by owners Peel Ports will create a fourth berth for freight and passenger traffic and help operators to respond more effectively to growing demand. The funding will also see a new pontoon built to support offshore crew transfer vessels, a new port entrance created and various improvements to the port IT and terminal operating systems. Work will begin in November and is expected to be completed by October 2017. A new link road connecting the port and the M6, bypassing congestion in Lancaster, is set to open on the 31 October. Heysham is also the closest port for several major offshore infrastructure projects including the proposed National Grid connection of Moorside nuclear power station in Cumbria ... Read more
PR: Bay Gateway M6 relief road unleashes Port of Heysham’s potential
IRISH SEA freight ferry operator Seatruck says the opening of the new £124.5million Bay Gateway relief road in Lancaster, is the biggest commercial opportunity for the Port of Heysham in its history. Seatruck CEO Alistair Eagles said the opening, on October 31, is the long awaited ‘big bang’ moment for the Port of Heysham. He said it unleashes the port’s potential to win more Irish Sea tonnage from hauliers who no longer have to wrestle with congestion between the M6, Lancaster and the Heysham peninsula. “This is the moment we have campaigned and worked years for,” he said. “The Bay Gateway thrusts Heysham firmly forward as a growing hub for Irish Sea freight. Our big message to hauliers, and any company operating cargo across the Irish Sea, is think again, think Heysham, think Seatruck. At Seatruck we can offer a hugely attractive alternative to remote ports like Holyhead and Cairnryan ... Read more
PR (Stena): Stena Line confirms £7m fleet refit contract with Harland & Wolff
Stena Line has confirmed that Harland & Wolff’s Belfast shipyard will be carrying out the bulk of its Irish Sea annual ferry fleet refit and maintenance programme in a £7m contract. Each year Stena Line carries out a series of passenger facility upgrade works as well as a number of scheduled maintenance and engine works to ensure its fleet of 11 ferries on the Irish Sea are running to optimum efficiency. The Harland & Wolff refit schedule for 9 of the Irish Sea fleet will start at the end of December and will run through until early May 2017 to ensure that Stena Line’s sailing schedules are not unduly impacted. Paul Grant, Stena Line’s Route Manager (Irish Sea North) commented: “The marine refit sector is a highly competitive market and I’m delighted to confirm that Stena Line has appointed Harland & Wolff to carry out this important operational project. Stena ... Read more
PR (Stena): Stena Line wins ‘Best Ferry Company’ for the 24th time
LEADING ferry company Stena Line is celebrating after winning top ferry company for a record-breaking 24th time at the annual Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards. The ‘Best Ferry Company’ award was presented to Paul Grant, Route Manager, Irish Sea North for Stena Line at the awards ceremony on Friday (October 21) at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle. Northern Ireland Travel News has organised these prestigious awards for the past 25 years and this year’s ceremony was hosted by much loved actor Jimmy Nesbitt who ensured attendees were entertained all night. The awards ceremony was attended by over 450 people from the local travel and tourism industry and awards were given out over 30 categories, which is the largest number of categories to date. Orla Noonan, Head of Travel at Stena Line said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this much coveted award and it is particularly ... Read more
PR (Stena): Stranraer Museum Recognises Stena Galloway Community Contribution
Captain Robin White and past crew members of the Stena Galloway, formerly the Galloway Princess ferry, which made the daily ferry crossing between Stranraer to Larne for over two decades, joined representative of Dumfries & Galloway Council at a special ceremony held at Stranraer Museum today (Wed 19th Oct). To mark the special link between the vessel and the town of Stranraer over many years, Stranraer Museum kindly agreed to put on permanent display the nameplate of a British Rail locomotive name in honour of the Stena Galloway, as a lasting reminder of the special bond that existed between the ship and the town and people of Stranraer. The British Rail engine was built in Crew and entered service in 1965 as Engine D1973. The locomotive engine spent most of its working life based in Scotland located at either Inverness or Eastfield in Glasgow. The locomotive engine was called the ... Read more