Ulysses goes to dry-dock, but W.B. Yeats is still not in service

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
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ULYSSES approaches the entrance to Belfast Dry Dock (BDD) on June 28th 2018. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Irish Ferries' ULYSSES approaches the entrance to Belfast Dry Dock (BDD) on June 28th 2018. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

Irish Ferries ULYSSES entered dry-dock at Cammell-Laird Birkenhead this evening having been replaced on the timetable by the Visentini Ro-Pax EPSILON this morning. It had been widely expected that W.B. YEATS, which was delivered just before Christmas, would be in service to release ULYSSES, but it appears the new vessel is still not ready. This is despite Irish Ferries previously stating that she would be in service in “early January”.

W. B. YEATS rests at berth 18 in Dublin Port following her journey from Germany, December 20th 2018. Irish Ferries.
Irish Ferries’ W. B. YEATS rests at berth 18 in Dublin Port following her delivery journey from Germany, December 20th 2018. Irish Ferries.

ULYSSES had actually been expected to go to dry-dock over a week ago, with the delay seemingly to have been to wait until W.B. YEATS was in service to provide more capacity. As the new vessel is not available, veteran cruise-ferry OSCAR WILDE has remained on the Dublin to Holyhead route on the secondary schedule with her planned sailing to France this evening cancelled. This means that there has been a significant cut in freight capacity on the Holyhead route and that those with bookings for the French service have had to make alternative arrangements.

Irish Ferries' ULYSSES makes her way along the River Mersey on her way to dry-docking at Cammell-Laird, 15.01.19. Copyright © Rob Foy.
Irish Ferries’ ULYSSES makes her way along the River Mersey on her way to dry-docking at Cammell-Laird, 15.01.19. Copyright © Rob Foy.

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