Irish Ferries News

Blue Star 1 in previous ‘superfast’ livery while servicing routes in the Greek islands

Irish Ferries Introduces Newer, Faster Ship on Rosslare–Pembroke Route

29th March 2021 Ferry

Irish Ferries has announced the addition of the RoRo passenger ferry Blue Star 1 to its Rosslare–Pembroke Dock route. The ship is being chartered from the Attica Group and delivery is expected in early April. Blue Star 1 was built…

A newer and faster passenger ro-ro ferry from Greece, Blue Star 1 is to enter Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route. The chartered ferry from the Mediterranean, is to replace Ireland-Wales route's Isle of Inishmore which opens a new service for ICG, notably on the Dover-Calais service. As for the 'blue' hulled livery for Blue Star 1, this is existing, though for the charter, the Irish Ferries name and funnel colours, Afloat adds in reality have already been applied at Piraeus yard. The last and only time a 'blue' hull appeared for Irish Ferries was their former 'Rosslare'-based France routes cruiseferry, Oscar Wilde.

Charter of Newer & Faster Passenger RoRo for Irish Ferries Rosslare - Pembroke Route

26th March 2021 Ferry

With Irish Ferries to launch a first ever service on a UK-France route next month, the company also announced the addition of a passenger ro-ro ferry Blue Star 1 to its Rosslare to Pembroke Dock route. The ship (to replace…

In a significant first for Irish Ferries, a subsidiary of Irish Continental Group (ICG), which is to launch a new service on the Dover – Calais route. The Strait of Dover service is planned to start in June 2021, with the transfer of the Isle of Inishmore to the UK-France route. ICG add further capacity will be added in the coming months. Replacing 'Inishmore' on the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route will be another Mediterranean ferry (see: Ferry News 11th Feb) with the latest charter of ro-ro ferry Blue Star 1 from Greek based Attica Group, (Afloat adds operator of Superfast Ferries) for more on 'Superfast' sisters, see same story from last month.

New Service As Irish Ferries Announce Launch on 'Dover – Calais' Route

26th March 2021 Ferry

A first for Irish Ferries, as the subsidiary of Irish Continental Group plc (ICG) has announced a new service on the Dover – Calais route. The service is planned to start in June 2021, with the transfer of Isle of…

Irish Ferries' car carryings during 2020 were down by 65.8% to 137,100 cars. Above Ulysses on Dublin Bay, AFLOAT adds during its delivery voyage /maiden arrival to Dublin Port on 4th March 2001. This month also marks its 20th year operating on the core Irish Sea route of Dublin-Holyhead. The custom Finnish built cruiseferry, has recently returned to service following a routine overhaul dry-docking at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on Merseyside. Taking its place was W.B.Yeats which has since resumed Dublin-Cherbourg duties.

Travel Restrictions on Irish Ferries from Covid Hit ICG's 2020 Performance

11th March 2021 Ferry

Irish Ferries, owned by the Irish Continental Group, has reported lower revenues and earnings for 2020 due to Covid-19 travel restrictions on its passenger business. Irish Continental Group said its revenues for the year fell by 22.5% to €277.1m from…

The W.B Yeats cruise-ferry. Irish Ferries contends that a decision by the National Transport Authority requiring it to pay compensation to many of the 20,000-plus passengers who had to change their travel plans is invalid.

Irish Ferries Setback In Bid to Avoid Compensating 20,000 Passengers Hit by Cancelled Sailings

5th March 2021 Ferry

Operator, Irish Ferries has suffered a setback in its legal challenge to avoid paying compensation to thousands of passengers whose trips were cancelled on sailings between Ireland and France in the summer of 2018. The ferry company contends that a…

Irish Ferries throws a lifeline as it signed a 10 year contract to continue using the south Wales ferryport of Pembroke Dock which links Rosslare Harbour. AFLOAT also adds is the operator's Isle of Inishmore, off the jetty of the Pembrokewhire port. In neighbouring Fishguard Harbour (owned by Stena) which also competes with their route also linking with the Wexford port.

Ferryport in South Wales Sees Irish Ferries Sign 10-Year Deal with Pembroke Dock

28th February 2021 Ferry

Ferryport of Pembroke Dock is where fears that the south Wales port could become a casualty of Brexit have proved unfounded, with Irish Ferries signing a 10-year deal with the Port of Milford Haven. The company has signed the deal…

W.B. Yeats brings a boost in freight capacity as the giant ferry entered months earlier than scheduled on the Dublin Port -Cherbourg route .

Irish Ferries Boost Freight Capacity As W.B. Yeats Enters Service Early on Direct France Route

11th January 2021 Ferry

W.B. Yeats, the largest ferry operating out of Dublin Port has switched from the Holyhead route to Dublin-Cherbourg due to the continued surge in freight demand on direct routes to France, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 165 freight accompanied unit capacity…

Boss Eamon Rothwell of ICG (operators of Irish Ferries) has said exporters will continue to opt for the ‘faster, cheaper’ UK landbridge to Europe. Above Afloat's photo of the forward section of W.B. Yeats berthed at Dublin Port with loading underway.

ICG Boss of Irish Ferries Says Exporters to Continue Using ‘Faster, Cheaper’ UK Landbridge Despite Brexit

6th January 2021 Ferry

The CEO of the company that operates Irish Ferries has said that exporters will continue to use the ‘faster, cheaper’ UK landbridge between Ireland and mainland Europe despite Brexit. As Extra.ie reports, goods going between EU countries and Britain now…

Most people will not be able to travel from Holyhead to Dublin this year. Above ferries inbound from the north Wales port approach the Irish capital.

Travel Ban Extended (Ireland Covid-19): Latest Advice from Stena Line & Irish Ferries

24th December 2020 Stena Line

Ferry and air travel from the UK to Ireland will be banned for most people until the end of the year. The Irish cabinet, reports NorthWalesLive, has agreed that the current travel restrictions between Ireland and Britain will remain in place…

The body of a man was found on the shore near Ynys Y Fydlyn in Anglesey on Wednesday. Above a UK Coastguard helicopter involved in the search off north Wales.

Search for Missing Irish Ferries Crew Member Leads to Body Found

8th October 2020 Ferry

In the search for a missing Irish Ferries crew member a body of a man has been discovered. North Wales Police have confirmed that the discovery was made on the shore near Ynys Y Fydlyn in Anglesey on Wednesday morning.…

The 44-year-old man went missing during a voyage from Dublin to Holyhead. The search in the Irish Sea has now been called off (with this scene in Welsh waters).

Search for Irish Ferries Crew Member Called Off

7th October 2020 Ferry

On the Irish Sea a major air and sea search for a missing ferry crew member who disappeared during a voyage has been called off. Aircraft and boats, reports NorthWalesLive, have been involved in a major overnight operation to try…

The upturned fishing boat is inspected by the Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore rescue boat

Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore Locates Kinsale Orkney Longliner Adrift 150-Miles from Home

30th August 2020 Kinsale

The Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore cross channel ferry spotted a 20-foot Kinsale-based fishing boat capsized off the coast of Wales this afternoon. The ferry, under the command of well-known Irish yachtsman and tall ship skipper Captain Gerry Burns, was…

ICG (owners of Irish Ferries) chief Eamonn Rothwell says passenger quarantine rule will put Common Travel Area at risk post-Brexit. Above AFLOAT's photo of Irish Ferries Ulysses at Dublin Port ferryport terminal No.1. from where the cruiseferry operates on the core Irish Sea route linking Holyhead along with ropax Epsilon.

UK May ‘Retaliate’ Over 14-Day Quarantine, Warns Owners of Irish Ferries

12th June 2020 Ferry

Passengers coming from Britain to the Republic and subjected to a two-week quarantine, at a time when Boris Johnson’s government has exempted Irish citizens from its own restrictions, puts the entire Common Travel Area at risk post-Brexit, according to the…

The 'Ferry Faces' of Stena Line's 'Seamaster' class Stena Adventurer arrives in Dublin Port ahead of Irish Ferries Ulysses when approaching in Dublin Bay. Both ferries compete on the core Irish Sea short-service route linking Holyhead, north Wales.

Ferries Face 'Mandatory' Masks on Stena Ships Whereas Already 'Advisable' on Irish Ferries

11th June 2020 Ferry

Operator Stena Line from next week will introduce the mandatory wearing of face coverings for passengers as distinct to Irish Ferries last month's advisory to don such health related attire, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Covid-19 related measures are intended to…

Irish Ferries cruiseferry W.B. Yeats captured by AFLOAT entering Dublin Bay during its maiden delivery voyage in 2018, but considerably later than scheduled from German shipbuilder FSG. Owners of the ferry operator, ICG has cancelled an order for a second vessel with the same German shipyard which would of been the World's largest ferry based from a version of W.B. Yeats. AFLOAT reported yesterday, W.B. Yeats which due to Covid19 was delayed by three months in resuming Dublin-Cherbourg route as the services 'cruiseferry' operated ship has completed its first round-trip this summer by arrival into Dublin Port this morning.

Traffic Numbers for Irish Ferries’ Passengers Slump 60% due to Covid-19 Restrictions

11th June 2020 Ferry

Ferry operator, Irish Continental Group (ICG) has said its division, Irish Ferries experience passenger numbers slump by 60 per cent so far this year due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. The company, according to The Irish Times, also said in a…

W.B.Yeats finally resumed its seasonal summer time role on the Dublin-Cherbourg route which saw the cruiseferry depart the Irish capital yesterday albeit under grey skies. Likewise a similar scene as above of this file photo taken when the cruiseferry berthed at one of the French port's ro-ro linkspan's.

Irish Ferries W.B. Yeats Resumes Its 'Seasonal' French Route Role Albeit With the Caveat of Covid-19

10th June 2020 Ferry

Irish Ferries W.B. Yeats which has been delayed in resuming Ireland-France 'cruiseferry' sailings by almost three months due to Covid19, has finally begun its 'seasonal' service role, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat tracked W.B. Yeats depart Dublin Port yesterday for the…