Ferry News
All the latest ferry news can be found here! Although with an emphasis on the Irish Sea and broader European ferry market, we cover all the big Global ferry news stories. We cover the routes and ships coming and going, newbuilds and all the big stories affecting the ferry companies.
Technical problems on North Channel services
Both European Highlander and Stena Superfast VII where off service today at Harland and Wolff shipyard. Â Whilst the Stena maintenance had been planned, European Highlander suffered serious technical problems towards the end of last week and so was drydocked this morning. Â This has meant North Channel services to both Cairnryan ports have operated at half capacity. Â P&O’s Express Catermaran is also at Harland and Wolff being readied for her planned return to service At the end of the month. Stena Hibernia left Belfast laden this evening just after 7:30pm bound for Cairnryan in order to move trailer traffic across the channel and I assume she will also return laden. Â At present European Highlander is still in drydock, and Superfast VII is scheduled to be off service tomorrow as well, so all sailings are expected to be very busy again tomorrow. At present the active fleet is as follows: P&O Larne ... Read more
Site updates March 2014 to date
So it’s the first real update of March and its a big one! Â At last I have managed to get around to writing the updates I have been planning for the last couple of weeks. Â So in no particular order, this is what has been added over the past few days. Seatruck Power and Seatruck Progress profile added – although they don’t currently operate to Northern Ireland, Seatrucks policy of moving ships around to cover charters means they likely will do a some stage in the future wether for Seatruck themselves or another operator. Stena Hibernia profile added. This completes the profiles for the current Stena Line fleet. P&O’s Express profile added, so the local P&O fleet is now complete Pictures added to Stena Precision and Stena Performer page. Started adding brief operator profiles (not yet accessible). Added section at the bottom of routes and operators page for ships which ... Read more
Scandlines buys 2 ferry hulls from bankrupt shipyard
Taken from World Maritime News Scandlines has taken over two hulls of its new vessels, which were under construction at P+S WERFTEN shipyard in Stralsund. The hull purchase agreement with the shipyard, which went bankrupt, was signed in February. Scandlines said that the company will transfer the hulls to another shipyard so that they can be outfitted within one year and subsequently enter into service on the Rostock–Gedser route. The new vessels will replace ferries Kronprins Frederik and Prins Joachim currently serving the route. There are a number of European shipyards interested in making an offer for the modification and completion of the vessels, said Scandlines in a press release. Whichever shipyard wins the contract it will need to reduce the weight of the ships, most probably by removing the top passenger deck. The transport capacity will remain unchanged (96 trucks or 480 cars) but the number of passengers ... Read more
Stena buy direct Ireland to France route
(Official Stena Press Release)“Leading European ferry company Stena Line has acquired the Irish-owned Celtic Link ferry service which operates from Rosslare-Cherbourg. Celtic Link currently provides a three times weekly service between Ireland and France with the Mv Celtic Horizon, which can accommodate 1 000 passengers, 200 cars and 120 freight units. Ian Davies, Stena Line’s Route Manager (Irish Sea South) said: “The acquisition of the Rosslare-Cherbourg route is a key strategic investment for Stena Line and one which will help stimulate and strengthen new and existing opportunities for trade and tourism between Ireland, France and beyond. With confidence in the Irish economy strengthening, we see positive long term growth in tourist and freight traffic from the Continent as a real opportunity to help strengthen this economic growth further. The Celtic Horizon will continue to operate a year- round service and we look forward to introducing the Stena Line experience to ... Read more