NORBAY
EUROPEAN SEAWAY’s North Channel stint a success!
The latest Shippax traffic statistics for May, which have been seen by NIFS, indicate that EUROPEAN SEAWAY proved a success story as a relief vessel at Larne. Freight traffic actually increased year on year, whereas when the NORBAY covered a year on year loss was always recorded. Some had predicted that there would be a drop as in previous overhaul cover periods. In the past Stena Line’s Belfast to Loch Ryan Port route gained from the Larne overhaul period, but any hopes for this didn’t materialise. Whilst there was a small drop in P&O passenger numbers in May, Stena Line’s Belfast route dropped by a larger margin showing that actually the Larne route out-performed the market. While many (including myself) were sceptical of Dover based EUROPEAN SEAWAY‘s suitability for the route, it appears that P&O Ferries really did do their research and that the decision to use the Dover based ... 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
P&O Larne-Cairnryan refit/dry-dock dates 2017.
P&O’s Larne to Cairnryan vessels European Causeway and European Highlander are expected to go for dry docking between the 28th April and 2nd June this year.  European Highlander will be first, heading for Cammell-Laird Birkenhead on 28th of April.  She will return on the 15th of May, allowing European Causeway to take her turn at Cammell-Laird. Throughout the dry-docking period P&O’s Dover based “Super Freighter” European Seaway will provide cover, becoming the largest ferry to ever operate a scheduled service from Larne in the process.  This will be the first time European Seaway has visited Northern Ireland, with dry-docking periods in recent years normally covered by Dublin-Liverpool’s Norbay.  Due to her length (around 10m longer than the limit stated on the Port of Larne website) NIFS expect that she will use the MacKean Quay berth in Larne, which is the longest berth available at the port.  MacKean Quay also has the twin-tier linkspan European Seaway will need to be able 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