Carlingford Lough ferry AISLING GABRIELLE in dry-dock.

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
Last updated:
Frazer Ferries AISLING GABRIELLE on trials at Greenore in advance of commencing the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service from the Louth port to Greencastle in County Down. Courtesy of the Carlingford Twitter / Facebook page.
Frazer Ferries AISLING GABRIELLE on trials at Greenore in advance of commencing the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service from the Louth port to Greencastle in County Down. Courtesy of the Carlingford Twitter / Facebook page.

Frazer Ferries AISLING GABRIELLE (ex FOYLE VENTURE, SHANNON WILLOW) arrived at the New Ross boatyard on the River Barrow, County Wexford, at around 8am yesterday (Wednesday 21st February) for dry-docking and annual maintenance.  She has been temporarily replaced on the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service across Carlingford Lough by the smaller FRAZER MARINER (ex BERNE FARGE).  FRAZER MARINER normally operates the seasonal Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry service across Lough Foyle between Magilligan Point (Co. L’Derry) and Greencastle (Co. Donegal), however that service is currently suspended for its winter break.

Frazer Mariner pictured crossing Lough Foyle on her first day of service, 17/7/17. Copyright © Martin McKenna.
FRAZER MARINER pictured crossing Lough Foyle on her first day of service, 17/7/17. Copyright © Martin McKenna.

As reported by NI Ferry Site earlier this month, FRAZER MARINER took up service on the Carlingford Lough link between Greenore (Co. Louth) and Greencastle (Co.Down) on Saturday 10th of February.  This allowed AISLING GABRIELLE to layover before leaving Carlingford Lough on the morning of 19th of February, arriving at Arklow that afternoon for an overnight layover.  She left Arklow the following morning, arriving at Passage East (Co. Waterford) at around 19:00, leaving the Waterford port at 06:30 yesterday for the trip along the River Barrow to New Ross.

FRAZER MARINER arrives at Greencastle (Co. Down) while relieving on the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service in the absence of AISLING GABRIELLE, February 2018. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
FRAZER MARINER arrives at Greencastle (Co. Down) while relieving on the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service in the absence of AISLING GABRIELLE, February 2018. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

It is not yet clear whether AISLING GABRIELLE will cover for FRAZER TINTERN on the Passage East ferry service between Passage East and Ballyhack (Co. Wexford) as she did last year, or whether she will return north to Carlingford Lough once her annual maintenance is complete.

Frazer Ferries are a Limerick based company who operate three ferry services on the Island of Ireland; the Passage East Ferry, Scenic Carlingford Ferry, and Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry.  They also own the three vessels which run on these services; FRAZER TINTERN (ex F.B.D. TINTERN (ii), STEDINGEN, VEGESACK, STADT LINZ, ST JOHANNES (ii)), AISLING GABRIELLE, and FRAZER MARINER respectively.  On the 21st of July 2017 the company opened the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service, the first vehicle ferry service across Carlingford Lough, using the former Lough Foyle Ferry AISLING GABRIELLE.  This was the culmination of around 9 years of work and almost €10m of private investment from Frazer Ferries in the Carlingford Ferry route.  This included the construction of two brand-new ferry slipways and the associated vehicle marshalling and foot passenger waiting areas.


TITLE IMAGE: Frazer Ferries AISLING GABRIELLE on trials at Greenore in advance of commencing the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service from the Louth port to Greencastle in County Down. Courtesy of the Carlingford Twitter/Facebook page.


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