[Updated] Weather Causes Serious Disruption to Direct Ireland to France Ferries
Weather conditions have led to a number of ferry services to and from Ireland being cancelled over the next few days.
Sailing Update
[PR] Brittany Ferries confirms immediate changes to ferry schedules
Brittany Ferries has outlined a series of changes to its schedules, in response to the on-going Coronavirus crisis.
Sailing/weather information, 16th October 2017
As has been widely reported in the media, what is left of  Hurricane Ophelia is expected to hit the UK and Ireland on Monday 16th October ’17.  A severe weather warning has already been issued, with the NI Weather and Flood Advisory Service issuing Red and Amber weather warnings and the Met Office an Amber weather warning.  As this is expected to be one of the worst storms in recent years, with the coast of Ireland and Northern Ireland expected to be the most badly hit area with winds of up to 80mph predicted, it is likely that there will be disruption to ferry and airline travel as well as potential problems with road and rail links.  If you are intending to travel at the start of the week NIFS advise that you check regularly with your chosen operator and allow additional time to get to the port.  People travelling … Read more
Sailing update: Problems continue for P&O.
Yesterday’s issues with P&O‘s Larne to Cairnryan service appear to yet be resolved, with both EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER and EUROPEAN SEAWAY still running behind schedule. As yet it is still unclear what has caused the delays, which started with EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER sailing from Cairnryan some 6 hours late last night. This follows Stena Line having used the P&O owned port for a time yesterday to berth their Superfast sisters. This is understood to have been due to a problem with the ramp at their own Loch Ryan Port. At the time of writing (15:35) it looks extremely unlikely that todays 16:30 departures will be on-time, with both vessels mid-channel (running around an hour late), despite P&O’s own twitter feed reporting the sailings are on-time. The 16:30 departures on our #POCairnryan & #POLarne routes are expected to sail on time. Have a fantastic trip today! — P&O Ferries Updates (@POferriesupdate) June 7, 2017 If you are due … Read more
Sailing updates: P&O and Stena Line North Channel services.
In what has been a much more eventful than normal day for North Channel ferries, P&O are now running with delays.  The 20:00 sailings from both Larne and Cairnryan have yet to depart at the time of writing (23:05), with what appears to be some sort of technical failure with one of the vessels.  This is despite EUROPEAN SEAWAY having been loaded at Larne for hours.  P&O’s service disruption follows Stena Line’s earlier technical problems which now appear to have been resolved (see below). Following the cancellation of the 19:30 departures from both Belfast and Loch Ryan Port (Cairnryan), Stena Line advise that their services are back on schedule with the 23:00 departures (the 23:30 ex LRP is leaving at 23:00 with delayed traffic from the earlier sailing).  As a result the vessels are on opposite sides of the North Channel to normal with STENA SUPERFAST VII at Belfast and STENA … Read more
Sailing update: Stena Line currently experiencing delays on Cairnryan services.
Stena Line are currently experiencing delays on all services to and from Loch Ryan Port (Cairnryan) due to a technical problem at the Scottish port.  For the first time, it appears that Stena Line have managed to berth the Superfast’s at P&O’s Cairnryan facility, though NIFS understand that loading and unloading is only taking place via the lower vehicle deck due to restrictions at the P&O port. Please use Stena Line’s ferrycheck service for the latest information by phoning 08705755755 or visiting stenaline.co.uk/ferrycheck. UPDATE:  Following the cancellation of the 19:30 departures from both ports, Stena advise that their services are back on schedule with the 23:00 departures (23:30 ex LRP is leaving at 23:00 with delayed traffic from the earlier sailing).  As a result the vessels are on opposite sides of the North Channel to normal.
Sailing update: Storm Desmond sailing delays and cancellations.
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
Sailing update: Reduced Stena Cairnryan service this weekend.
Stena Superfast VIII off-service for essential maintenance. NIFS understand that Stena Superfast VIII will be off service this coming Saturday 5th Dec from 14:00 until Sunday 6th December’s 11:30 sailing for essential maintenance.  The online booking engine has already been updated. The following sailings will be cancelled: Ex Belfast Sat: 15:30, 19:30 Ex Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) Sat: 15:30,  23:00. Sundays 05:00 has been retimed to 04:15. As always, if you intend to travel, please call Stena Ferry Check on +44 (0) 8705 755 755 for the latest information. Image: Stena Superfast VIII, laid over at Belfast’s Stormont Wharf for planned maintenance, on Saturday 17th October 2015.  Copyright © Steven Tarbox.
Sailing update: Stena Line, Saturday 14th November
According to Stena’s online booking engine, Stena Superfast VIII will miss 2 round trips this coming Saturday, 14th November. We understand that this is due to planned maintenance. The cancelled sailings are the 15:30 and 23:00 from Belfast, and the 19:30 and 05:00 (on the 15th) from Loch Ryan Port/Cairnryan. As always, if you intend to travel, please call Stena Ferry Check on +44 (0) 8705 755 755 for the latest information. Image: Stena Superfast VIII, laid over at Belfast’s Stormont Wharf for planned maintenance, on Saturday 17th October 2015.  Copyright © Steven Tarbox.
Sailing update: Stena Superfast planned maintenance.
As reported last week, Stena Superfast VIII is undergoing planned maintenance in Belfast this weekend. As a result, Stena Line are operating a reduced sailing schedule to Loch Ryan Port/Cairnryan today. Stena Superfast VIII tied up at Stormont Wharf last night, with the planned layover spot at D1 occupied by the damaged 315m long LNG tanker, Al Oraiq, which is awaiting repairs at Harland and Wolff. Al Oraiq was damaged in a collision off Zeebrugge with the Dutch registered freighter, Flinterstar, which sank. Stena plan to resume normal service tomorrow morning. Title Image: Stena Superfast VIII in Belfast Lough during the Tall Ships 2015.  Copyright © Ross McDonald.
Sailing update: Stena’s Superfasts to undergo routine maintenance in October.
Reduced Belfast to Scotland timetable in operation over 2 weekends in October. Following swiftly on from Stena Mersey’s routine dry-docking this week, news has reached NIFS that it is planned that Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII will each be taken out of service for a short period during the weekends of October 9th to 11th (SSF 7), and the 16th – 18th (SSF 8).  As a result, a reduced timetable will be in operation, with it planned that the freight only ship Stena Hibernia will operate limited additional freight sailings on these weekends to Cairnryan/LRP.  It is understood that this routine maintenance will be conducted alongside at Belfast, and will not require dry-docking of the ships. Title image: Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII passing in Belfast Lough. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
Stena Birkenhead sailings re-timed
Stena have advised (via FerryCheck) that all sailings to and from Birkenhead (Liverpool), have been retimed. Â I have copied the text from FerryCheck below. Â For the latest please contact Stena directly or visit the FerryCheck site here Please be advised that due to operational reasons your 10:30hrs sailing from Belfast to Liverpool (Birkenhead) will now be departing at 09:30hrs, Check-in will open at 07:45hrs and CLOSE AT 08:45HRS PROMPT. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this. Please be advised that due to operational reasons your 22:30hrs sailing from Belfast to Liverpool (Birkenhead) will now be departing at 21:30hrs, Check-in will open at 19:45hrs and CLOSE AT 20:45HRS PROMPT. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this. Passengers who arrive after time specified may not be permitted to board.
