[PHOTO FEATURE] Rosslare Snapshot, December 2021

By: Gary Andrews
Date:
COTENTIN and STENA HORIZON at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.
COTENTIN and STENA HORIZON at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.

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.

STENA HORIZON arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.
STENA HORIZON arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.

New French Service

COTENTIN arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.
COTENTIN arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.

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.

COTENTIN arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.
COTENTIN arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.

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.  

STENA HORIZON at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.
STENA HORIZON at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.

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 FerriesCAP FINISTERE, CONNEMARA, ARMORIQUE, COTENTIN
Stena LineSTENA FORETELLERSTENA HORIZON, STENA ESTRIDSTENA EMBLA, STENA EUROPE, SEATRUCK PANORAMA
DFDSOPTIMA SEAWAYS, VISBY, KERRYDROTTENARK DANIAPELAGOS, REGINA SEAWAYS
Irish FerriesISLE OF INISHMOREBLUE STAR 1
COTENTIN arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.
COTENTIN arriving at Rosslare 4 December 2021. Image: Gordon Hislip.

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