AISLING GABRIELLE

Frazer Ferries AISLING GABRIELLE on trials at Greenore in advance of commencing the Scenic Carlingford Ferry service from the Louth port to Greencastle in County Down. Courtesy of the Carlingford Twitter / Facebook page.

Profile of the Carlingford Lough ferry AISLING GABRIELLE, previously Foyle Venture. Includes an overview of her history, technical data, and photographs.

Lough Foyle Ferry Company cease operations.

Lough Foyle Ferry service between Magilligan and Greencastle will not run again unless a new operator and vessel is found. Lough Foyle Ferry Company have confirmed that they have sold their vessel Foyle Venture to Frazer Ferries, and have informed Donegal County Council and Causeway Coast and Glen Council that they will not be seeking to renew the contract to operate the service when the current agreement expires at the end of next March.  Manager Jim McClenaghan told the Derry Journal they had no option but to cease service and sell the ferry as it has been “running on a shoestring” for a number of years and their “pleas for funding fell on deaf ears.” Limerick based Frazer Ferries hope to inaugurate a new crossing between Greenore (RoI) and Greencastle (Co. Down) next year, with construction of the terminal at Greenore understood to have begun earlier in the year.  The service will be … Read more

STRANGFORD (Vessel Profile)

Frazer Ferries STRANGFORD seen leaving Greencastle at the start of another crossing to Magilligan Point while in service for Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry, Spring 2019. Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry.

MV STRANGFORD (also known as STRANGFORD FERRY, as that was the name she had painted on her hull) was the smaller of the 2 vehicle carrying vessels operating on the link across Strangford Lough between Strangford and Portaferry until the end of 2016.  Until the entry into service of the PORTAFERRY II, STRANGFORD FERRY was the main vessel on the route, having launched the vehicle ferry service in 1969.  Following PORTAFERRY II‘s arrival her role changed to provide extra capacity on the service during the summer and to cover maintenance on the larger PORTAFERRY II.  STRANGFORD FERRY was originally built for Down County Council in 1969, and was earmarked as far back as 2009 for replacement in 2016, by which stage she was operational for some 47 years. Life extension and replacement In order to extend her life until 2016 STRANGFORD FERRY received new vehicle ramps and a full repaint following sand blasting during a dry docking at Harland and Wolff in 2011.  Despite … Read more