[Photo feature] Ferries in Dry Dock – Part 1 of 4
The first part in a series of four photo features looking at ferries in dry dock. This part features the HSS Stena Explorer, Stena Caledonia, and P&O Ferries’ Express
SUPER EXPRESS (ex GOLDEN EXPRESS / EXPRESS / CATALONIA / PORTSMOUTH EXPRESS / CATALONIA L / CATALONIA. Also marketed as Portsmouth Express / Cherbourg Express / Viking FSTR)
[PR] Incat Tasmania celebrates holding Transatlantic Record for 30 years
Thirty years ago this week, ‘Hoverspeed Great Britain’, captured the Hales Trophy for the fastest Tranasatlantic voyage, a record held by Incat craft ever since.
June (and early July) 2019 news roundup
A brief roundup of news stories not already covered on NI Ferry Site including local news, news of vessels which have left our waters, plus industry and new building news.
In Waters New Update – featuring the former Stena Antrim, Stena Caledonia, Stena Galloway, Lagan Viking, and Express!
As operators prepare for the summer season, we take a look at the status of some former North Channel and Irish Sea regulars.
October News Roundup
A quick roundup of some recent stories featuring local, industry, and former local vessel news which haven’t warranted their own separate post.
Former Larne to Troon Catamaran sold to Greek interests
The former Larne-based fast ferry HSC EXPRESS has been sold to Greek interests according to ellinikiaktoploia.net
In Waters New Roundup: Autumn 2017
A quick update on the current status of some of the former Northern Ireland based ferries now operating elsewhere around the world, including the former EXPRESS, STENA GALLOWAY / GALLOWAY PRINCESS, STENA CALEDONIA / ST. DAVID, STENA CAMBRIA / ST. ANSELM, STENA NAVIGATOR / SEAFRANCE MANET, and EUROPEAN PATHFINDER / JAGUAR / EUROPEAN CLEARWAY / BEGONIA
In Waters New, Easter 2017 Roundup.
A quick news roundup featuring some vessels which previously plied their trade in NI waters. LE RIF: Could the former STENA GALLOWAY/GALLOWAY PRINCESS soon be back in service? The last purpose-built vessel for the Larne to Stranraer service could soon be back plying her trade in the Mediterranean. Last month LE RIF (ex Stena Galloway, Galloway Princess) was moved from La Spezia to Napoli. The vessel had previously been purchased at auction by the mysterious new Moroccan company DWLM who had intended to refit her at Malaga, however the vessel was moved to La Spezia amid reports of a dispute with the Malaga yard owners over costs. Reports from Italy suggest that the vessel may now be under the control of the group of companies that own Mediterranean operator Moby Lines. Moby themselves have been acquiring a number of elderly vessels in the past couple of years, including the now MOBY KISS (ex … Read more
Ferry industry news roundup (wk 2 Apr ’17)
A roundup of some of the news from the ferry industry in recent weeks. Viking launches FSTR service with former Larne vessel HSC express, whilst competitor Linda Line sells one of their craft. HSC EXPRESS has started the latest chapter of her post-P&O career operating another service in the Baltic, this time for Viking Line as an additional vessel to their fast-conventional RoPax VIKING XPRS on the Helsinki – Tallinn route. Marketed as Viking FSTR (though still officially named EXPRESS), the former P&O vessel is operating the popular route in competition with Tallink’s ‘Shuttle’ service for vehicles and passengers, Eckerö Line who also carry vehicles and passengers on FINLANDIA, and Linda Line, who only carry passengers. The introduction of EXPRESS, which appears to be largely unchanged from her days operating from Larne, appears to be a response to Tallink’s introduction of the brand new MEGASTAR fast-conventional RoPax alongside STAR. Meanwhile, Linda Line have sold one of … Read more
HSC Express finds (another) new home on the Baltic.
HSC Express to become Viking FSTR. Baltic ferry operator Viking Line have announced that they will operate the former Larne – Troon fast craft HSC Express on their Helsinki – Tallinn route later in 2017. Renamed Viking FSTR, the vessel which is on charter, will operate from 10th April to October 22nd with a crossing time across the Gulf of Finland of 1 hour and 45 minutes. Viking FSTR (Viking Faster) joins the conventional ferry Viking XPRS on the route for Viking, operating in competition with Tallink’s Star, Silja Europa, and recently launched Megastar. A third operator on the route, Linda Line, operates the passenger only catamaran’s HSC Merlin and HSC Karolin with a 90 minute crossing time. By comparison Tallink complete the passage in 2 hours, whilst Viking XPRS lags behind at 2.5 hours. The Helsinki to Tallinn route is very popular with shoppers who are keen to take advantage of the difference in tax rates … Read more
Press Release: P&O Ferries Announces Closure of its Larne-Troon Service
The following is P&O Ferries press release announcing the closure of the Larne to Troon route, reproduced in full P&O Ferries Announces Closure of its Larne-Troon Service After a comprehensive review of its options, P&O Ferries has decided to close its loss-making Larne- Troon route with immediate effect, but the company has also confirmed it will continue to operate its full Larne-Cairnryan route services throughout 2016 and into the future. P&O Ferries has proudly operated this additional seasonal route since 2003, but the stark reality is that the company is continuing to make losses, and sadly the income from ticket sales is not sufficient to cover the annual vessel and port operating costs. In a final attempt to make the route economic the company reduced the service in the off-peak months last year, whilst maintaining the full service in the peak months of July and August. Whilst this measure did significantly … Read more
