#ferry -Cruiseferry WB Yeats, which was originally scheduled to begin Dublin-France operations almost five months ago, is expected to dock in the capital next week, Irish Ferries has said.

As The Irish Times writes, the shipping company cancelled 6,000 bookings on the ferry in August and September, with the travel plans of at least 19,000 people affected.

This followed the cancellation of all bookings on the WB Yeats for more than two weeks in July, which affected about 10,000 people.

The company blamed “extraordinary circumstances beyond its control”.

The delivery of the €147 million vessel had been delayed by German shipbuilder FSG which, in a statement, attributed the delay to receiving parts late from suppliers.

For further reading click here and previous Afloat coverage prior to first sea-trials.