SUPER EXPRESS (ex GOLDEN EXPRESS / EXPRESS / CATALONIA / PORTSMOUTH EXPRESS / CATALONIA L / CATALONIA. Also marketed as Portsmouth Express / Cherbourg Express / Viking FSTR)
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 GotlandsbÃ¥ten 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
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
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 GotlandsbÃ¥ten, who plan to operate her for 9 months of the year between Visby (Gotland) and Västervik (Swedish mainland).  GotlandsbÃ¥ten ... Read more
Sailings to next years Isle of Man TT set to be reduced, despite record visitors this year.
No additional vessel available during the Isle of Man TT races The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo) have announced that they are currently set to offer fewer sailings to the Isle of Man during next years TT racing season. This is due to P&O’s decision not to extend the charter of their fast craft Express, as reported earlier this month. In recent years IOMSPCo have sub-chartered Express from P&O to provide additional sailings to the Isle of Man during this peak period, departing to Douglas from P&O’s Larne port rather than the regular IOMSPCo port of Belfast.  This news comes on the back of an announcement that visitor numbers arriving by ferry during the races where at their highest since 2007 this year. IOMSPCo however have said that they have approached several companies with a view to chartering vessels over the TT period, but so-far no vessels appear to be ... 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