EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY imo: 9208394
Further doubt cast over the future of Larne – Troon ferry service.
Troon service to be axed totally? Further doubt has been cast over the future of the Larne-Troon ferry service, following the publication of P&O’s Cairnryan sailing schedule up until 2017. Â It had been expected by many that one of the current Cairnryan vessels would operate to Troon next year, effectively reducing the sailing frequency of the service from Larne – Cairnryan. Â However, the new schedule is unchanged from this years, meaning that both vessels will most likely remain on the Cairnryan service as passenger bookings are already being taken for EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY and EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER. Of course, other options to save the service from the axe remain, including running a freighter to either Troon or Cairnryan. Â However, berthing constraints at Larne, Cairnryan and Troon make finding another vessel a difficult task, particularly when factoring in the need for increased vehicle deck height in order to be able to continue to ... Read more
Site news and updates for end of June 2015
News Im delighted to be able to announce that Alan Geddes has agreed that his photographs may be used on NIFerrySite. Alan’s photographs are mainly taken within the Belfast harbour area, and often from an elevated position, giving them a perspective not often seen elsewhere. Alan’s photographs will continue to be added to many of the profiles (and also the former ferries photo feature) in the coming weeks – a number have already been added. In the meantime, why not check out Alan’s Flickr page. Don’t forget you can also find links to the flickr accounts (where applicable) of the other photographers featured on this site on the links page. New ferries added The following vessel profiles which where added recently, have had technical data, photographs, and some history added: Seacat Scotland Seacat Danmark The Seacat Isle of Man/Snaefell and Hoverspeed Great Britain pages should be finished in the coming week. Changes to ... Read more
Latest updates for June ’15
New ferries added The following vessel profiles have had technical data, photographs, and some history added: Seacat Scotland Seacat Danmark The Seacat Isle of Man/Snaefell and Hoverspeed Great Britain pages should be finished in the coming week. Changes to existing ferry posts The following vessel profiles have had material added or changed European Causeway/European Highlander (new photographs added and reformatted with headings) Stena Superfast VII/Stena Superfast VIII (reformatted, added headings, and updated to reflect the introduction of Stena Superfast X) Changes to pages and navigation Ferry routes and operators page rewritten due to a formatting issue on some browsers. New category added “NI Ferry Profiles (current)” and added to menu (filed under “The NI Ferry Fleet” to allow easier navigation to current ship profiles. Some minor changes to formatting have also been made to a number of the posts and pages on the site so that they appear better with ... Read more
Official: P&O to axe Express from Larne-Troon service
Public conformation that Express WILL be dropped from Larne-Troon at the end of this season. In an interview with the Larne Times, a P&O spokesperson has confirmed that the fast craft HSC Express will NOT have her charter renewed at the end of her current season, and that notice has already been given to the owners of the craft that this is the case.  Express currently operates the seasonal service between Larne and Troon, as well as providing support to the Isle of Man Steam Packet during the TT racing season.  This year marks the 15th year in a row that Express has been chartered by P&O, and her 10th operating on their North Channel services. Last week, NI Ferry Site published the news that staff and crew had been told that Express would not operate next year, however this interview provides public confirmation.  As we stated last week, P&O maintain that they ... Read more
Today’s sailing updates
Updates to the original text are in red. Stena Line have posted the following to their ferrycheck page “Please be advised that due to earlier adverse weather the next sailing from Belfast to Cairnryan today will be 1430 hrs instead of 1130 and 1530 hours- Please check in by 1330 hrs to ensure you get on this sailing – if you wish to change your booking please calll 08447 70 70 70 – Sorry for any inconvenience caused”.  At present (18:00), Ferrycheck indicates that the remainder of todays sailings will operate as normal Tonights Birkenhead to Belfast sailing is delayed by up to 3 hours, whereas the Belfast-Birkenhead sailing is delayed by 60 90 minutes.  This mornings 10:30 departure for Birkenhead was delayed by some 120 minutes according to ferrycheck.  Stena Hibernia is currently on the berth at VT2, so I assume she is sailing for Birkenhead today. Stena Hibernia ... Read more
Storm Rachel afternoon/early evening update (NI), 15/1/15
Severe disruption to ferry services continues as storm Rachel continues to batter both the UK and Ireland. All Stena services to and from Cairnryan and Belfast are either cancelled or in doubt (see below), with both vessels shortly to be in Belfast – Stena Superfast VIII left Cairnryan at around 12:30 and is currently approaching Belfast Lough (at 14:10). The following is taken from Stena’s ferry check service. Ex Belfast Superfast VII 03:30 05:52 Cancelled Superfast VIII07:30 09:52 Cancelled Superfast VII 11:30 13:52 Cancelled Superfast VIII15:30 17:52 In Doubt Superfast VII 19:30 21:52 In Doubt Cancelled Superfast VIII23:30 01:52 Retimed to 21:30 Update 17:30: 1530 SAILING DELAYED APPROX 90 MINS. LATEST CHECK IN 1600. 1930 SAILING CANCELLED. PASSENGERS CAN TRANSFER TO THE RETIMED 2330 SAILING NOW DEPARTING AT 2130…LATEST CHECK IN 2100. Ex Cairnryan Superfast VIII04.00 06:45 Cancelled Superfast VII 07:30 09:45 Departed Superfast VIII11:30 13:45 Cancelled Superfast VII 15:30 ... Read more
North Channel dry dock update
P&O’s European Highlander and European Causeway are scheduled to dry dock at Harland and Wolff between 13th of April and 14th of May 2015. Norbay is expected to provide cover with Express also providing one round trip per day to Cairnryan during this period. Sailings ex Larne will be: 04:00, 07:30, 11:59 (fast), 12:00, 16:30, 20:00, and 23:59. Times ex Cairnryan are the same apart from the fast trip, which will depart at 14:00. Stena’s Stena Superfast VII and VII are expected to dry dock during March for approximately 2 weeks each. Exact dates have yet to be confirmed, however Stena Nordica (ex European Ambassador) is expected to provide cover once she has been relieved by Stena Superfast X (current Dieppe Seaways). Dieppe Seaways is expected to transfer to Stena at the beginning of December and will proceed to Poland for conversion into a Stena ship for the Dublin to ... Read more