Local (NI) ferry news
All the latest local ferry news from Northern Ireland including news concerning the ferry services to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, as well as internal services. News of vessels visiting local waters is also covered here.
PR: Strong volumes on Belfast ferry routes
Leading ferry company Stena Line has recorded strong volumes on its Belfast services for the first six months of 2017. To the end of June 2017, freight volumes increased +5%, passengers and cars grew +4% year on year. The fastest growing sector was coaches recording a record +19% increase. Stena Line operates three services from Belfast Harbour which provide up to 14 daily crossings options between its Cairnryan, Liverpool (Birkenhead) and Heysham services. Paul Grant, Stena Line’s Trade Director (Irish Sea North) commented: “Despite operating in a highly competitive environment, we have delivered a very strong set of volume increases across all of our three Belfast services. Despite intense competition, our freight volumes have increased with demand particularly high on our Belfast-Liverpool service. The rise in coach volumes has been assisted significantly by the increasing demand for day visits and from Chinese tour parties.” Paul Grant added: “Stena Line continues ... Read more
All systems go on relaunched Lough Foyle Ferry service.
The relaunched ferry service between Magilligan and Greencastle (Co. Donegal) carried its first passengers yesterday evening (Monday). The resumption of the troubled service had been delayed due to an issue with a high-pressure fuel line onboard the new vessel FRAZER MARINER (ex Berne-Farge). Limerick based Frazer Ferries are again the operator of the service, which has been branded as “Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry” in a similar fashion to their “Scenic Carlingford Ferry”. It was announced yesterday evening that the vessel was now in service and carrying passengers across the lough for the first time since the previous vessel Foyle Venture (now FRAZER AISLING-GABRIELLE) left the service last year. Today was the first full day of operation for the service which is expected to run 7 days a week from 9am to 8pm until mid-September. For more information including fares please visit the website at: http://loughfoyleferry.com. There is still no official start date ... Read more
PR: Update from Paul O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Frazer Ferries
Frazer Ferries sincerely apologises for the delay in the commencement of Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry operations. We understand and greatly regret the disappointment and frustration that the public feel. We are doing everything in our power to commence operations as soon as possible. Over the course of the last two months Foyle Port Engineering have undertaken and completed the final required work to our vessel, the Frazer Mariner. In recent weeks they worked double shifts to undertake all the works, which they completed in the tightest of timeframes and to the highest standards. The two statutory authorities, the Marine Survey Office and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, attended on board our vessel on Monday and Tuesday of this week and approved all the work. Our operating licenses for Lough Foyle were, therefore, approved by the agencies subject to one piece of piping being changed. The pipe in question is a ... Read more
EUROPEAN SEAWAY’s North Channel stint a success!
The latest Shippax traffic statistics for May, which have been seen by NIFS, indicate that EUROPEAN SEAWAY proved a success story as a relief vessel at Larne. Freight traffic actually increased year on year, whereas when the NORBAY covered a year on year loss was always recorded. Some had predicted that there would be a drop as in previous overhaul cover periods. In the past Stena Line’s Belfast to Loch Ryan Port route gained from the Larne overhaul period, but any hopes for this didn’t materialise. Whilst there was a small drop in P&O passenger numbers in May, Stena Line’s Belfast route dropped by a larger margin showing that actually the Larne route out-performed the market. While many (including myself) were sceptical of Dover based EUROPEAN SEAWAY‘s suitability for the route, it appears that P&O Ferries really did do their research and that the decision to use the Dover based ... Read more
EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY expected to return to service tomorrow.
P&O Ferries’ EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY returned to Larne from Cammell-Laird Birkenhead earlier today, and is expected to resume service with tomorrows (19th June) 10:30 sailing from Larne. As a result, relief vessel EUROPEAN SEAWAY should make her final crossing on the North Channel this year with tomorrows 07:30 ex Cairnryan. It is expected EUROPEAN SEAWAY will leave for her home port of Dover in the coming days, potentially as early as tomorrow, having completed her relief duties on the North Channel. Whilst not an ideal ship, it must be said that EUROPEAN SEAWAY‘s maiden spell on the North Channel was pretty successful – particularly for a vessel that is so much physically bigger than any other ferry that has commercially operated between the two ports*! On a personal note, it was great to meet some of her crew (you know who you are) and experience a vessel in passenger service that normally only freight ... Read more
Scenic Carlingford Ferry service launch delayed
The launch of the new Scenic Carlingford Ferry service across Carlingford Lough appears to have been delayed from June 2nd 2017 until sometime next week. The company posted the following message to their Facebook page yesterday (May 31st): There are some operational elements to be fulfilled and due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be hosting passengers on board this week. A huge thank you to everyone who has bought tickets online with the early bird discount – it’s great our excitement is contagious.We will keep you posted on redemption and can’t wait to welcome you aboard. Once operational the service will connect Greenore (County Louth) with Greencastle (County Down), and will become the first car ferry to ever operate across Carlingford Lough. The recently repainted and renamed double-ended ferry AISLING GABRIELLE (ex Foyle Venture, Shannon Willow) will complete each crossing in around 15 minutes with up to 44 cars ... Read more
Stena add additional sailings on Birkenhead to Belfast route.
Ferry big demand for extra sailings Press Release • May 15, 2017 16:48 BST LEADING ferry company Stena Line has announced that due to very high seasonal demand, they are introducing additional morning sailings in July on the Belfast to Liverpool route. The additional sailings will be added on Monday 10 and Monday 17 July and mean that Stena Line will transport more people than ever to their destination. Travel Commercial Manager, Orla Noonan, commented: “We don’t want to disappoint any of our customers so we are ramping up our efforts by putting on some extra sailings on our popular Belfast to Liverpool route. The demand is high for us at this time of year as we provide our customers with an unrivalled passenger experience that they just won’t find anywhere else. “Ferry travel is the perfect start to any summer holiday or short break and Stena Line ships have fantastic onboard ... Read more