Scenic Foyle Ferry
All systems go on relaunched Lough Foyle Ferry service.
The relaunched ferry service between Magilligan and Greencastle (Co. Donegal) carried its first passengers yesterday evening (Monday). The resumption of the troubled service had been delayed due to an issue with a high-pressure fuel line onboard the new vessel FRAZER MARINER (ex Berne-Farge). Limerick based Frazer Ferries are again the operator of the service, which has been branded as “Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry” in a similar fashion to their “Scenic Carlingford Ferry”. It was announced yesterday evening that the vessel was now in service and carrying passengers across the lough for the first time since the previous vessel Foyle Venture (now FRAZER AISLING-GABRIELLE) left the service last year. Today was the first full day of operation for the service which is expected to run 7 days a week from 9am to 8pm until mid-September. For more information including fares please visit the website at: http://loughfoyleferry.com. There is still no official start date ... Read more
PR: Update from Paul O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Frazer Ferries
Frazer Ferries sincerely apologises for the delay in the commencement of Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry operations. We understand and greatly regret the disappointment and frustration that the public feel. We are doing everything in our power to commence operations as soon as possible. Over the course of the last two months Foyle Port Engineering have undertaken and completed the final required work to our vessel, the Frazer Mariner. In recent weeks they worked double shifts to undertake all the works, which they completed in the tightest of timeframes and to the highest standards. The two statutory authorities, the Marine Survey Office and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, attended on board our vessel on Monday and Tuesday of this week and approved all the work. Our operating licenses for Lough Foyle were, therefore, approved by the agencies subject to one piece of piping being changed. The pipe in question is a ... Read more
STRANGFORD (Vessel Profile)
MV STRANGFORD (also known as STRANGFORD FERRY, as that was the name she had painted on her hull) was the smaller of the 2 vehicle carrying vessels operating on the link across Strangford Lough between Strangford and Portaferry until the end of 2016. Until the entry into service of the PORTAFERRY II, STRANGFORD FERRY was the main vessel on the route, having launched the vehicle ferry service in 1969. Following PORTAFERRY II‘s arrival her role changed to provide extra capacity on the service during the summer and to cover maintenance on the larger PORTAFERRY II. STRANGFORD FERRY was originally built for Down County Council in 1969, and was earmarked as far back as 2009 for replacement in 2016, by which stage she was operational for some 47 years. Life extension and replacement In order to extend her life until 2016 STRANGFORD FERRY received new vehicle ramps and a full repaint following sand blasting during a dry docking at Harland and Wolff in 2011. Despite ... Read more