Harland and Wolff (H&W)
Ibn Batouta (ex Stena Antrim) update.
Further service (hopefully) beckons for the former North Channel favourite It has been confirmed that the purchasers, at auction, of the former COMANAV ferry Ibn Batouta (better known as the former Stena Antrim and St Christopher) was Albanian operator Red Star Ferries. Red Star Ferries currently operate from the Italian port of Brindisi to the Albanian ports of Durres and Vlore, with the elderly Red Star 1 (ex, Viking III, originally built 1965). It is rumoured that Ibn Batouta has been acquired to operate one of the existing Brindisi to Durres or Vlore routes, though it is understood that the Vlore route has less traffic and so it may be more likely she will operate to Durres instead. It is believed that the vessel is currently (or about to) undergo an intensive refit at Bijela (Montenegro), which will involve her capacity being enhanced, and recertification. Certainly, an intensive refurbishment will be required, with the long layover in Algercias having ... Read more
The ex Stena Galloway/Galloway Princess put up for sale.
Could the former Stena Galloway be heading for scrap? Following the bankruptcy of her owners last year, the Le Rif (ex Stena Galloway, Galloway Princess) is to be sold at auction, the proceeds of which will be used to settle unpaid bills. Bids are to start at 4.6 million Moroccan Dirham, equivalent to about £300k. NIFerrySite believes that Le Rif suffered a major technical failure before she was laid up, and has deteriorated inside in the meantime with no-one to look after her. Unfortunately, given the condition of the vessel and the low start price, her most likely buyer is probably a ship breaker. Launched in 1980 as Galloway Princess, Le Rif was the first of the final 4 passenger ferries built by Harland and Wolff, and consequently also one of the final ships ordered by Sealink before privatisation. EDIT: Click here to see the latest (as of July 2016) ... Read more
Stena ISN refits almost complete
The return of Stena Superfast VIII to service yesterday afternoon saw the completion of the 6th refit in Stena’s Irish Sea North refit schedule. Stena Performer, Stena Mersey , Stena Lagan, Stena Hibernia, Stena Superfast VII, and Stena Superfast VIII have all been refitted since November of last year. Stena Precision will refit in April, meaning all 7 local vessels have been refitted in 5 months. All of the refits have been completed by Belfast yard Harland & Wolff with the exception of Stena Lagan (which visited A&P Falmouth instead), in what is a £6 million pound investment by Stena Line. The refit of Stena Superfast VII and VIII was covered by Stena Nordica, which herself was displaced by the arrival of Stena Superfast X on the Dublin – Holyhead route. Stena Nordica is currently laying over at D1 in Belfast having transferred her crew and stores back to Stena ... Read more
Stena Superfast X en-route to Holyhead, Stena Nordica expected in Belfast soon
The latest addition to Stena Line’s Irish Sea fleet, Stena Superfast X (ex Dieppe Seaways, Seafrance Moliere, Jean Nicoli, Superfast X), is en-route to Holyhead from the Nauta shipyard in Poland following her conversion for service between Holyhead and Dublin Port. The sister ship to Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII is expected to arrive in Wales by Thursday morning, and has already rounded the top of Scotland. It is expected that she will replace Stena Nordica in service before the end of next week, freeing up Stena Nordica to replace Stena Superfast VII so she can go for dry-docking at Harland & Wolff. Once this is completed, Stena Nordica will then relieve Stena Superfast VIII, which will then proceed to Harland and Wolff. Once Stena Superfast VIII returns to service, Stena Nordica is expected to transfer to DFDS, who plan to use her between Dover and Calais. 26th February: ... Read more
Stena Line dry dock update
As of last weekend, four of Stena’s Irish Sea ships should have completed overhauls: Stena Performer, Stena Mersey, Stena Lagan and Stena Hibernia. Stena Hibernia had been expected to resume service to Liverpool (Birkenhead) at 15:00hrs on Monday, but is still at Harland & Wolff. Stena Precision is currently en-route from Birkenhead to Belfast so may well swap places with Hibernia after discharging in Belfast as she is the next vessel scheduled to visit Harland & Wolff. Stena Superfast VIII and then Stena Superfast VII are expected to visit Harland & Wolff in March with Stena Nordica providing cover on the North Channel service following being displaced on the Dublin – Holyhead route by Stena Superfast X. Of 7 ships a total of 6 have been/will be handled by Harland & Wolff – Stena Lagan being the exception as she went to A&P Falmouth in December as the H&W where busy handling ... 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