#EpsilonArrives– Epsilon's first visit to Dublin Port last night completes the end of her repositioning voyage from Sicily last week, which included a call via Gibraltar, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The three-year charter of Epsilon to Irish Ferries is expected to see the 500 passenger ro-pax introduced as the third vessel on the Dublin-Holyhead in the run-up to the busy Christmas season.

Epsilon is to provide two additional departures daily in each direction which will increase sailings to a maximum of twelve serving the core Irish Sea route.

The 2011 built Epsilon which docked this morning at Ocean Pier, a temporary berth, is set to join the routes flagship cruiseferry Ulysses and fastcraft Jonathan Swift. Unlike her fleetmates, Epsilon will not however be catering for 'foot' passengers on any of her sailings.

In addition to the Epsilon sailing on the Irish Sea, the 26,325 tonnes ferry is to launch in the New Year, a new direct service to France between Dublin-Cherbourg starting on 18 January 2014.

The year-round operated continental route will be served only at weekends, when a round-trip sailing schedule will provide a link between the Irish capital and Normandy.

#NewFerry – Irish Ferries chartered ro-pax Epsilon called to Rosslare Europort from Cherbourg this morning, her arrival to Irish waters follows a repositioning voyage starting almost a week ago from Sicily, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Under the command of Captain Paul Sellers, Epsilon approached the Wexford ferryport from where Irish Ferries Pembroke Dock bound Isle of Inishmore vacated her berth for the newcomer.

Ironically at the adjacent berth to where Cartour Epsilon (2011/26,325grt) berthed was Celtic Horizon (2006/27,522grt) of Celtic Link Ferries which in 2011 entered service on their service to Cherbourg. She is a sister and former fleetmate which as Cartour Beta also served Italian operator Charonte & Tourist.

Epsilon's call to the Wexford port was likewise to Cherbourg to carry out berthing trails when Irish Ferries requires relief cover on southern services.

She is due to make the final leg of her journey to Dublin Port to where the ro-pax ferry is to enter service on the Holyhead route this week and in the New Year launch a new Dublin Port-Cherbourg route.

Also berthed in Rosslare Harbour was Stena Europe, the Fishguard route ferry which was fresh from annual maintenance following dry-docking in Birkenhead.

#NewFerry – 'Epsilon' Irish Ferries new ro-pax ferry continues her voyage to Ireland as she rounds Land's End tonight having called today to Cherbourg for berthing trials, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The call to Normandy represents the first of three ports that she will serve on her two-route roster which sees the 2011 built ferry firstly make her debut between Dublin-Holyhead later this week.

The second route in which Epsilon is to be deployed, Dublin-Cherbourg will be run on a year-round basis. The economy-style service will cater for motorist based passengers and for freight vehicle customers, albeit foot passengers will not be carried.

Epsilon's call to Rosslare Harbour is due for berthing trails, as Irish Ferries intend that the Italian flagged newcomer also provide relief cover on sailings from the Wexford port.

Captain Paul Sellers who has charge of the chartered ferry which departed Sicily last week, will be back in local waters as he is a master of the Isle of Inishmore which serves Irish Ferries route to Pembroke Dock.

The operator's second ship running from Rosslare Harbour is the French routes cruiseferry, Oscar Wilde which is currently maintaining added capacity as the third ship on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

She is expected to return to Rosslare-Cherbourg sailings later this week, pending the smooth introduction of Epsilon further north between the Irish capital and Anglesey.

#HSSreturns – The festive season will bring thousands of people driving home for Christmas with the return of the HSS Stena Explorer on the Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire service for 12 days.

The fastcraft's Christmas service on the Stena Line route will run between 20-23 December, 27-30 December and in the New Year between 2-5 January. The additional sailings will provide people travelling to Britain and Ireland to visit family and friends, enjoy a short break or take advantage of New Year sales.

The 2 hour 20 minute service will operate to a single round-trip schedule on the selected dates listed above with departures from Holyhead at 10.30am and sailings from Dun Laoghaire at 1.30pm.

Fastcraft facilities include a children's play area and entertainment, free Wi-Fi and festive movies and wonderful dining options. The onboard shop has offers of up to 40% savings compared to high street prices on a wide range of cosmetics, jewellery, spirits and fragrances.

Stena Line's Head of PR and Communications, Diane Poole said: "We are delighted to be bringing back the Stena HSS Explorer over the Christmas period. We always experience extra demand at this time of year, so the additional capacity will be of great help to customers. The HSS also brings with it its own unique brand of style and comfort plus the additional option of Dun Laoghaire port.

"Everyone deserves a break this Christmas and taking the ferry is the perfect way to travel as people can look forward to a stress free experience, arriving at their final destination relaxed and ready for the celebrations ahead.

High demand for Christmas sailings is expected and customers are advised to book early for the best fares and to secure preferred sailings.

#NewFerry – 'Epsilon' the new ro-pax ferry on charter to Irish Ferries is currently off the Portuguese coast heading to Cherbourg for berthing trials, prior to making her debut on the Irish Sea, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Italian flagged 26,375 tonnes vessel is under the charge of Capt. Paul Sellers, a master of the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route vessel Isle of Inishmore.

Earlier this week as previously reported, she departed Messina, Sicily on her repositioning voyage to Irish waters and so far this has involved a call to Gibraltar for bunkers.

The newcomer was previously on charter as Cartour Epsilon to Caronte & Tourist service between Italy and Sicily. The 500 passenger and crew ferry will also make en-route ports of call to carry out berthing trials in Rosslare and Holyhead.

Epsilon is scheduled to launch her sailings between Dublin-Holyhead next week.

In the meantime Oscar Wilde which is off service from the French route to Cherbourg is covering the Dublin-Holyhead route until Epsilon takes over the same roster in a boost to capacity as the third ship on the route.

In mid-January 2014, Epsilon also launches a new Dublin-Cherbourg route where she will operate at weekends a round-trip schedule in addition to maintaining weekday sailings on the Dublin-Holyhead route

#CancelledSailings - Due to adverse weather conditions, some ferry sailings across the Irish Sea have been cancelled.

For the most up to date information on sailings times of ferry operators and how to contact them directly, the AA provides an updated live service.

#NewFerry – Epsilon the new ro-pax ferry which Irish Ferries has secured a three-year charter contract for Irish Sea and French operations, is underway in the Mediterranean Sea on a repositioning voyage bound for Irish waters, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 2011 built 26,375 tonnes ro-pax ferry is to be introduced firstly on the core Dublin-Holyhead route, boosting capacity as the third vessel in advance of the busy festive season.

In addition to providing daily weekday Irish Sea sailings, from mid-January 2014 she is also to launch a new year-round Dublin-Cherbourg route every weekend, departing the capital on Saturdays and returning on Monday mornings.

Completed by Cantiere Navale Visentini, Italy as Cartour Epsilon, she represents one of more than 20 similar vessels of this ro-pax design which has proven popular in the charter market.

The 500 passenger and crew vessel has been on charter to Caronte & Tourist running between Italian west coast ports and Sicily, from where she departed Messina yesterday and is currently in waters south-west of Sardinia.

Cartour Epsilon is due to call for bunkers in Gibraltar tomorrow night and this route to the UK overseas territory follows that of a sister, Cartour Beta. As AFLOAT.ie reported more than two years ago she sailed off the Algerian coast having departed Palermo and a call to Gibralter before reaching Rosslare Harbour under her new name Celtic Horizon.

The 2006 built Celtic Horizon is also on a three-year charter arrangement from her shipbuilder-owners to Wexford based Celtic Link Ferries which operates to Cherbourg.

When 'Epsilon' enters service this month in the run up to the busy festive period on the core Dublin-Holyhead route, passengers will have economy style facilities on board that include a bar, cafeteria, self-service restaurant, two and four berth cabins and free wi-fi service. In addition the ro-pax will boost vehicle deck space of approximately 2,860 lane metres.

Irish Ferries are to market the Dublin-Cherbourg route to an economy-style service as she differs considerably when compared to cruiseferry style facilities and a broader range of cabins available on board Oscar Wilde.

The new French route will augment the cruiseferry operations of the Oscar Wilde on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route and seasonal only service to Roscoff.

#FerriesDryDock - Stena Europe which stood in to cover Dublin-Holyhead route sailings by Stena Nordica, is currently in dry-dock at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The dry-docking of the Stena Europe had already been scheduled and as previously reported is not related to the recent false alarm of a fire during a Dublin-bound sailing last week.

Likewise Stena Nordica had also dry-docked at Cammell Laird, where the ro-pax spent the last two days of November. She has since resumed her roster on the central corridor route which is also served by Stena Adventurer.

Notably, RFA Fort Rosalie (A385), the London registered Royal Fleet Auxiliary fuel replenishment tanker is also berthed at the shipbuilding and repair facility on the Wirral Peninsula.

#FirstFerryAward – Stena Line became the first ferry operator to be voted in a new ferry category at the annual Blue Insurances Travel Media Awards.

The prestigious awards ceremony held in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin last week drew more than 170 guests and VIPS from the travel trade and media throughout Ireland. The annual awards were created to acknowledge outstanding performance in the travel and tourism industry.

Now in their third year, the awards comprised 21 categories which were voted for by a wide cross section of media in the Republic of Ireland and independently audited by the Department of Tourism at Dublin Institute of Technology.

Diane Poole OBE, Stena Line Head of PR and Comms UK and Ireland, accepted the award on behalf of the company commenting: "We are delighted to have been voted Best Ferry Company and it's particularly gratifying that these awards are voted for by the Irish journalists as they play a vital role in informing listeners, viewers and readers about the travel and tourism industry.

To receive the recognition of the media in this important market is a tremendous accolade for Stena Line and one which underscores the hard work which has gone into developing the Irish market in recent years. Engaging with the media on a regular and consistent basis has been at the forefront of our activities in recent years and this award pays testimony to the importance of ensuring the media are built into our business development strategy."

Diane concluded: "The ferry industry provides us with the opportunity to engage with an array of journalists across print, broadcast and online media and I am delighted that the Stena Line approach to these highly influential professionals has been recognised with this prestigious accolade."

#FerriesNewZeland – Recently displaced from Baltic Sea service the Stena Alegra, the former Merchant Ferries ro-pax ferry Dawn Merchant on the Irish Sea, is to be chartered to New Zealand ferry operator Interislander, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The chartering of Stena Alegra follows damage last month to the starboard shaft and propeller of Aratere, the workhorse of the Interislander fleet which accounts for 45% of the total capacity of the three vessel operated Wellington-Picton route.

Stena Alegra is due to reach New Zealand in late December with the aim of having the 350 passenger vessel in service by early January 2014.

Interislander's decision to charter Stena Alegra, which is owned by Stena Finance BV and managed by Northern Marine Management, will assist greatly with capacity issues during the current peak summer period as Aratere is expected to be out of service for the next six months while repairs are carried out in dry-dock.

Fleetmates of the Aratere are the Arahura and as previously reported on Afloat.ie, Irish Continental Group's chartered Kaitaki which was launched as Isle of Innisfree in 1995 for ICG subsidiary Irish Ferries routes on the Irish Sea. Her charter was extended earlier this year for a further four years until 2017.

Incidentally this is a year shorter to the timeframe of the chartered Epsilon to Irish Ferries, due to enter service this month on Dublin-Holyhead route.

In addition to Epsilon boosting capacity on the Irish Sea route, the Italian flagged vessel is to launch a weekend only but year round operated Dublin-Cherbourg route starting in mid-January 2014.