Stena kicks-off Irish Sea refit programme

Stena Hibernia in Belfast Lough.

Stena Hibernia first of 9 Stena Line vessels to visit Harland and Wolff. Stena Line kicked off their 2017 Irish Sea refit programme today (Wednesday), with Stena Hibernia making the short journey across the River Lagan to Harland and Wolff’s ‘Belfast Dry Dock’. Stena Europe will be next to go for refit on Jan 4th, covered by Stena Nordica which is returning to the Irish Sea as the refit cover vessel this year. This follows spells on the English Channel and Mediterranean with DFDS and GNV respectively, following her displacement on the Dublin to Holyhead route by Stena Superfast X.  Stena Nordica is of course a part-sister ship to P&O’s European Causeway and European Highlander, having been built for P&O as European Ambassador. £7m contract It is expected that the Stena Line Irish Sea refit programme for 2017 will run until early next May. As reported previously, Harland and Wolff … Read more

Sailing update: Storm Desmond delays and cancellations, 5/12/15

EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER leaves Larne in the freshly applied new P&O livery, May 2015. Copyright © Gary Andrews.

Sailing updates due to adverse weather on services from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Below is a snapshot of how things stand at present (13:40 Saturday 5th December 2015). As always if you plan to travel, please contact your chosen operator directly for the latest sailing information.  NI – UK sailing updates Belfast – Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) Stena Superfast VII continues to sail as normal, however Stena Superfast VIII is off-service today for planned essential maintenance. Belfast – Liverpool (Birkenhead) This mornings 10:30 sailing were cancelled as previously notified, however at present tonights 22:30 sailings from both Belfast and Liverpool look to be going ahead. Belfast – Heysham (freight) Stena Hibernia crossed to Liverpool last night, and is still there.  Stena Precision looks not to have sailed last night, and is alongside in Belfast.  Stena Performer also looks to be operating Belfast – Liverpool. No cancellations or delays notified as of … Read more

Sailing update: Storm Desmond sailing delays and cancellations.

Stena Superfast VIII. Taken in the North Channel from Stena Superfast VII. © 2015 Steven Tarbox/niferrysite.

Ferries cancelled or delayed due to adverse weather on services from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Early Saturday morning update (3am): in addition to the delays and cancellations below, Stena Superfast X’s 02:30 departure from Dublin and 08:55 from Holyhead, and Stena Europe’s 09:00 from Rosslare have been cancelled due to weather conditions. Irish Ferries 01:15 from Dublin to Holyhead has been delayed, having left Dublin just a few minutes ago, whilst all sailings from Rosslare to Pembroke on Saturday are either cancelled or in doubt.  Ulysses scheduled departure from Holyhead at 02:40 has been missed, and she is still on the berth at the Welsh port.  P&O’s Norbay looks to be running behind schedule between Liverpool and Dublin. Below is a snapshot of how things stand at present (19:20 Friday 4th December 2015). As always if you plan to travel, please contact your chosen operator directly for the latest sailing … Read more