Gotlandsbåten (Gotland Boat)
Official: P&O close Larne to Troon service with immediate effect.
No redundancies amongst permanent staff as the loss making Larne to Troon service is axed. P&O today finally announced that the seasonal Larne to Troon ferry service has been closed with immediate effect. This follows the decision last year not to renew the charter of the routes vessel, the InCat catamaran HSC Express, which was subsequently sold by her South American owners to Swedish interests for operation to Gotland. It is also understood that the contract with ABP for the use of the Port of Troon expires this June. Whilst there will be no redundancies as a result of the closure, NIFS understand however that the majority of the staff were seasonal meaning they no longer have jobs for the next year. In a statement released this morning, the ferry company said: “P&O Ferries has proudly operated this additional seasonal route since 2003, but the stark reality is that the ... Read more
Weekly roundup 19/12/15
A quick roundup of some this weeks ferry industry news stories, both local and further afield. Local ferry news. Bye bye Express. The former P&O Larne – Troon vessel Express finally left Belfast on Wednesday following her layover following her final service to Troon in October, and subsequent sale by owners Buquebus to Swedish interests following P&O’s decision not to renew her charter. She is currently laid over in Helsingborg and is expected to enter service for Gotlandsbåten between Gotland and the Swedish Mainland in March 2016. Notably an article promoting a £50 discount for fans travelling to France for Euro 2016 via P&O’s Larne and Dover services makes no mention of a Troon service for next year (but does specifically mention Cairnryan), giving further rise to speculation the service may not return next season. UK ferry news DFDS to operate Newhaven route for a further 2 years. SMPAT, the French local government owned organisation, ... Read more
HSC Express prepares to leave following sale to Gotlandsbäten
Former P&O fast ferry to leave Belfast for Sweden in the next few weeks. Swedish start-up operator Gotlandsbäten have announced via their official Facebook page that HSC Express will leave Belfast for layup in Helsingborg within the next few weeks. They have also said that she is to commence service at the end of April 2016, operating from both Västervik and Nynäshamn to Visby. Final details and a timetable are to be released by the end of this year. Reduced speed Although HSC Express is capable of almost 40 knots, it is believed she will operate at just 30 knots for Gotlandsbäten, giving a crossing time of 2 hours and 3 hours respectively. It is not yet clear just how long her season will last however, with reports having varied from just 3 months (June-August) to 9 months. No new name HSC Express is to retain her name for her new owner/operator, and it ... Read more
P&O’s Express sold for operation in the Baltic
Larne to Troon vessel leaving for a new career in Scandinavia Respected industry source Shippax information have published the news that the current Larne to Troon vessel HSC Express has been sold to a company called Nordic HSC, based in Sweden. Current owners Buquebus had been looking for a buyer following P&O’s decision not to renew their long running charter for the craft. It is intended that Express will operate between the island of Gotland and the Swedish mainland. She will be delivered to the now owners next autumn, when she will undergo a refit and crew familiarisation prior to entering service in summer 2016. It is intended that she will be registered in Sweden, and will employ Swedish officers. Update: It appears the new operator of Express will be Gotlandsbåten, who plan to operate her for 9 months of the year between Visby (Gotland) and Västervik (Swedish mainland). Gotlandsbåten ... Read more