‘Blue Star 1’ arriving in Ireland next week
Irish Ferries’ chartered new ferry BLUE STAR 1 left Piraeus for Rosslare a short time ago. The 176m long vessel has been brought in by the Dublin-based company as a replacement for ISLE OF INISHMORE on the Rosslare – Pembroke route.
ISLE OF INISHMORE is to transfer to a new Dover- Calais route during June following planned maintenance. The company also intends to add additional vessels to the route but has not yet named these.
Although BLUE STAR 1 is theoretically a faster ship than the one she replaces, at present there has been no change to crossing times on the Irish Ferries timetable. She is currently estimated to arrive at Rosslare during the early hours of April 5.
BLUE STAR 1 appears on the Rosslare – Pembroke timetable from April 6, though this would appear to be ambitious. The ship will need to undergo full port inspections and possibly berthing trials prior to service. It is understood that her owner Attica Group is supplying deck and engine crew. Irish Ferries usual agency Matrix Ship Management is providing onboard services crew.
Other Irish Ferries fleet news
EPSILON finally left Belfast early this morning, after her longer than expected drydock at Harland & Wolff. She re-entered service with the afternoon sailing from Dublin to Holyhead today.
MEGA EXPRESS 4, which had been covering EPSILON, is currently offering additional Dublin – Cherbourg sailings this week. She sailed from Dublin yesterday and will do so again tomorrow with a return from France on Friday. It appears that she will then return to the Mediterranean with her charter from Corsica Ferries over.
With thanks to Christos at Voyager Shipspotting. Check out his Instagram here.
