#RailSail – The Port of Larne has the only integrated railway and ferry terminal on the island of Ireland, unlike Irish Rail's operated Rosslare Europort, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In more recent times the Rosslare Harbour railway platform was relocated away from the combined terminal. This is in stark contrast to the Co. Antrim ferryport operated by Larne Harbour Ltd (part of the P&O Ferries group) which is directly connected to Translink NI Railways route network linking Belfast.

Passengers can make convenient rail and sail access at Larne. On the North Channel is where P&O Ferries operate the Larne-Cairnryan service. On the Scottish side at Cairnryan there is however no railway station unlike Welsh ferryports of Fishguard and Pembroke that link Rosslare Harbour. 

One of the Larne-Cairnyan ferry sisters the ropax European Highlander assisted the Larne RNLI on a call-out last Sunday. This involved all-weather lifeboat ALB Dr John McSparron evacuate a casualty with medical difficulties from a 160m bulk carrier some nine nautical miles offshore.

In port this morning asides the ferry traffic is berthed freight-ro-ro ferry Arrow, which since December has been ‘wintering’ on an intermittent basis.

Arrow is part of the Seatruck Ferries fleet, however the vessel in recent years began a charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. This is to provide back-up support to the island’s main ferry, ropax Ben-My-Chree that operates Douglas-Heysham sailings.

The Port of Larne in recent months has seen cargoships arrive loaded with components for wind-farm projects. Among the callers was BBC Magellen (2010/5,344grt). The ship had wind turbine blades loaded at Emden, Germany.

A fleetmate of the BBC Chartering owned vessel, BBC Orion had docked last week at the Port of Waterford. The call saw the first batch of tower sections for wind-farms projects that are to be repeated throughout the year.