If there was an award for most interesting ferry port in 2021, Rosslare would take that trophy.
We have documented at length the fleet and route changes at the Wexford port. If you have missed anything, you’ll find NIFS coverage here on DFDS, Stena Line, Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries.
Back in May, NIFS correspondent Gordon Hislip provided a Snapshot of vessels using the port at the time. This was updated in October by fellow NIFS correspondent, Matt Davies.
Now, with the year coming to an end, Gordon Hislip has provided our latest gallery.
New French Service
The images taken on 4 December, focus, in particular on Brittany Ferries’ COTENTIN.
In mid-November Brittany Ferries announced a weekly Le Havre – Rosslare roundtrip, using the regular Le Havre – Portsmouth vessel, COTENTIN. The route began on 12 November. With Friday evening departures from France, returning the following night from Ireland, the route has got off to a promising start with some excellent loads reported.
The route had a minor setback when the COTENTIN ran into technical problems on her Le Havre – Rosslare sailing on 10 December. Retreating to Cherbourg, the ship remained there until 15 December, returning to service from Le Havre the following day.
Change on Stena Cherbourg route
The vessel changes for Rosslare aren’t quite complete yet. Stena Line will replace the STENA VINGA on their Rosslare – Cherbourg route with the SEATRUCK PANORAMA in the days before Christmas.
STENA VINGA will operate an additional Rosslare – Cherbourg sailing on Sunday 19 December. Following this, SEATRUCK PANORAMA will then take her place with the Monday departure from Ireland.
SEATRUCK PANORAMA joined the Stena Line fleet on a year-long charter in 2020, but was replaced on the Belfast – Birkenhead route by the STENA FORETELLER in September. She returned to owner, Seatruck Ferries for overhaul and then fleet wide refit cover. Task complete, she is now back on charter to Stena, due to operate as the second ship on Rosslare – Cherbourg for the foreseeable future.
STENA VINGA’s next Stena Line duty is on the Gdynia – Karlskrona route, There she becomes the fourth ship from 4 January 2022. Stena Line is moving operations to a newly-built port in Gdynia at the turn of the year and is increasing capacity accordingly.  With that route due to receive the STENA SCANDICA and STENA BALTICA later in the year, it isn’t clear how long STENA VINGA will be on this service.
Industry reports suggest that the reported plan by Condor Ferries to buy the STENA VINGA is now off.
A snapshot of a year
The full list of ferries that have operated on a scheduled basis from Rosslare in 2021 looks like this;
| Brittany Ferries | CAP FINISTERE, CONNEMARA, ARMORIQUE, COTENTIN |
| Stena Line | STENA FORETELLER, STENA HORIZON, STENA ESTRID, STENA EMBLA, STENA EUROPE, SEATRUCK PANORAMA |
| DFDS | OPTIMA SEAWAYS, VISBY, KERRY, DROTTEN, ARK DANIA, PELAGOS, REGINA SEAWAYS |
| Irish Ferries | ISLE OF INISHMORE, BLUE STAR 1 |
