A small coastal ferry, Frazer Mariner, with a bridge amidships above the vehicle deck, is this afternoon on a repositioning passage from the south-east bound for Carlingford Lough, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 20-car, 100-passenger ferry had made an en-route call to Arklow, from where it is understood it took on bunkers, and departed from the Co. Wicklow port’s North Quay this morning at around 06:30 hrs.

Operated by Frazer Ferries, Ireland’s largest domestic 'car' ferry company, based in Limerick, the 43m ferry with a beam of 13.5m received an annual survey at New Ross Boatyard. The facility features a dry dock of 70m long and 15m wide, located downriver on the Barrow of the Republic’s most inland port, accessed by the Waterford estuary.

Approximately midway along the estuary is where the Passage East, Co. Waterford-Ballyhack, Co. Wexford ferry service is served by Frazer Tintern. When the Frazer Mariner was in the south-east, this led to the ferry cover-in for the Passage East service, while the Frazer Tintern built in 1971, also went to the same dry dock.

The Frazer Mariner, built in 1983 and originally serving on German rivers, operates the Lough Foyle link between Magilligan Point, Co. Londonderry and Greencastle, Co. Donegal.

A second cross-border route is Carlingford Lough, taking 20 minutes between Greenore, Co. Louth, and Greencastle in Co. Down which is served by the their largest ferry, the 44-car, 300-passenger Frazer Aisling Gabrielle dating from 1978.  

Sailings for the Carlingford Lough season start in April and operate daily from May, while during busy times, two ferries operate the short-cut linking the Cooley Peninsula and the Mountains of Mourne.

Frazer Mariner, following its call at Arklow, had clung to the eastern seaboard of Leinster, which saw the ferry make a transit through Dalkey Sound just before noon.

This was followed by a crossing over Dublin Bay, then off Howth Peninsula with neighbouring Ireland’s Eye, and onwards between the mainland and Lambay. (The ferry completed its passage when berthing in Carlingford Harbour with a night-time arrival). 

Frazer Ferries also operates the Valentia Island ferry route, having acquired the service last year, which involves linking Reenard Point, Co. Kerry, and Knightstown on the island.

Operating this route is God Mets On III, built in 1963, which is the company's oldest car ferry.

Another fleetmate dating from the same decade is the Frazer Strangford, as part of its name indicates its origins, when launched Strangford Ferry in 1969 at the Verolme Cork Dockyard (V.C.D.). The ferry was built to serve Down County Council's service between Strangford and Portaferry on the Ards Peninsula.

Frazer Strangford continues to operate, albeit in a reserve capacity.