Irish Ferries News

As Afloat reported yesterday, the Oscar Wilde has replaced the chartered Blue Star 1 which previously serviced the Rosslare-Pembroke route until yesterday evening. The former Baltic Sea shuttle ferry began its first full day of sailings today on the Ireland-Wales route with the cruiseferry in Irish Ferries livery along with passenger facilities rebranded in line with the rest of the fleet. Oscar Wilde is seen above during berthing trials in advance of last night’s sailing from Wexford to Pembrokeshire.

Irish Ferries Launches Oscar Wilde as Fastest Cruise Ferry on the Irish Sea

31st May 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries celebrated the first day of sailings today of the cruiseferry Oscar Wilde, which is the largest and fastest on the Irish Sea and aims to live up to the famous Oscar Wilde quote “I have the simplest of tastes.…

Oscar Wilde with its new livery of Irish Ferries made its first call to Dublin Port having undergone rebranding at Harland & Wolff, Belfast from where the newcomer sailed into the capital for berthing trials yesterday. On arrival, the tugs Beaufort and Shackleton made a traditional maritime welcome with a water cannon salute across the ferry’s bow. As of today, Oscar Wilde is berthed in Rosslare in preparation for replacing this week the Blue Star 1 on the route to Pembroke in south Wales.

Oscar Wilde Zig-Zags Down the Irish Sea With Debut Scheduled in Advance of June Bank Holiday

30th May 2023 Irish Ferries

Oscar Wilde, Irish Ferries newest addition, freshly repainted in the company’s livery, made its maiden call to Dublin Port yesterday while en route from Belfast to other Irish Sea ports, writes Jehan Ashmore. The former shuttle ferry the Star that…

The former Star as above in Baltic Sea, ICG have chartered from the Tallink Grupp in Estonia for Irish Ferries and since renamed Oscar Wilde, is currently making a delivery voyage from Tallinn to Ireland, where the cruiseferry ‘initially’ is to operate the Rosslare-Pembroke route from June. The 36,249 gross tonnage ferry transited the Strait of Dover yesterday and as of today departed Cherbourg after berthing trials which are also to take place in Rosslare when a maiden port of call to Ireland is set for tomorrow morning, 14 May.

Irish Ferries Chartered Cruiseferry Oscar Wilde Underway on Voyage from Estonia to Ireland

13th May 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Continental Group (ICG) newly chartered cruiseferry, the Star recently renamed Oscar Wilde for Irish Ferries service, transited the Strait of Dover last night on its delivery voyage from Estonia to Ireland, writes Jehan Ashmore. The cruiseferry which had operated…

The former Tallinn-Helsinki shuttle cruiseferry the Star, AFLOAT adds, ICG have chartered from the Tallink Grupp in Estonia and will be transformed into Irish Ferries 'Oscar Wilde' to operate the Rosslare-Pembroke route from June. The cruiseferry, Afloat also highlights is currently on a repositioning voyage from the Baltic state's capital of Tallinn to Ireland. As mentioned previously, the Star was built in 2007 by Aker Yards (Helsinki) whereas Ulysses, Irish Ferries main Dublin-Holyhead cruiseferry of 2001 was from Aker Finnyards (Rauma) which is located west of the Scandinavian nation’s capital.

Owners of Irish Ferries Calls for Brexit Easements on Freight Using UK-Ireland Routes

11th May 2023 Irish Ferries

The Irish Continental Group (ICG) which is the parent company and owner of Irish Ferries has called for ‘green lanes’ for freight on UK-Ireland routes, for goods destined for Northern Ireland. On Thursday, ICG used a trading update in regards…

Irish Ferries is to introduce a former Baltic Sea cruiseferry, the Star from the Tallink Grupp. The vessel to be renamed Oscar Wilde will according to the company will be the largest and fastest ship on the Irish Sea and initially is to operate the Irish Sea route of Rosslare-Pembroke for the busy summer period having replaced Blue Star 1. AFLOAT adds that the Star built in 2007 by Aker Yards (Helsinki) was related previously to Aker Finnyards (Rauma) where was built in 2001 for Irish Ferries, the cruiseferry Ulysses for the Dublin-Holyhead route. As for the revival of Oscar Wilde, a cruiseferry of that name had served Ireland-France routes when based out of Rosslare Europort until the Irish port transferred Dublin on a new route to Cherbourg operated by cruiseferry W.B. Yeats.

Irish Ferries to Introduce Cruise Ferry on Rosslare-Pembroke Route

6th April 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries is pleased to announce the addition of a new cruise ferry to its fleet with the introduction of the ship to be renamed Oscar Wilde. Originally the cruiseferry called the Star served in the Baltic Sea and was…

The Irish Continental Group (ICG) chief executive, Eamonn Rothwell last year saw his pay package jump almost 250 per cent to €2.9 million. The chief executive is seen during the reception on board W.B. Yeats, the Irish Ferries cruiseferry which in 2019 was launched onto the Ireland-Wales route of Dublin-Holyhead (winter months) and the Dublin-Cherbourg seasonal service with mainland Europe.

Irish Continental Group (ICG) Chief Paid €2.9m as Ferry Group Defends Chair’s 19-year Tenure

30th March 2023 Irish Ferries

The pay package of Irish Continental Group’s chief executive, Eamonn Rothwell has jumped almost 250 per cent to €2.9 million last year, as the parent company of Irish Ferries, operating Ireland-UK routes and between Ireland and France, returned to profit…

The ropax Isle of Inisheer has returned to Dover-Calais which has enabled Irish Ferries to resume operating a three-ship service on the UK-France in advance of the busy Easter holiday break. The Dublin based company competes on the short-sea link with DFDS and P&O Ferries.

Return of 'Inisheer' to Dover-Calais, Brings Irish Ferries to Full-Strength Service in Advance of Easter

29th March 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries third introduced Dover-Calais route ferry, Isle of Inisheer has finally returned to service following a longer than expected dry-docking at the Harland & Wolff Group's Belfast shipyard, writes Jehan Ashmore Now that a three-ship service is back in…

ICG's Irish Ferries Dover-Calais service was further expanded by the introduction of the Isle of Inisheer on the route in 2022, however AFLOAT adds the ropax ferry is currently out of service from the UK-France route and is at Harland & Wolff, Belfast for winter dry-docking. Services are been maintained by Isle of Inishmore, while third route ferry, Isle of Innisfree is also out of service following an engine-room fire almost a week ago, with the ferry remaining berthed in Calais.

Irish Continental Group, Owner of Irish Ferries Returns to Profit in 2022

9th March 2023 Irish Ferries

The Irish Continental Group (ICG) which is the parent company of Irish Ferries, has posted a return to profit last year as the Group's annual revenues jumped. ICG have reported €66.7m in profits for the year to the end of…

Fresh from a recent routine dry-docking in Harland & Wolff, Belfast is the high-speed craft Dublin Swift which is set to return to seasonal Dublin-Holyhead sailings this Friday. This will be a week before the 30 knot craft will also be operating during the St. Patrick’s Bank holiday weekend.

Dublin Swift Prepares for Fast Ferry Sailings to Holyhead While Disruption Continues at Dover-Calais

6th March 2023 Irish Ferries

Afloat tracked Irish Ferries high-speed craft (HSC) Dublin Swift to Holyhead on Friday, having departed last month from Belfast Harbour on the repositioning voyage to north Wales, writes Jehan Ashmore. The HSC which had been at Harland & Wolff for…

Isle of Innisfree operates on the Dover-Calais with crossings up to ten times a day on the short-sea UK-France link in which Irish Ferries entered this market in the summer of 2021. The vessel is seen above at the UK’s busiest ferry port in Kent, England.

Irish Ferries Vessel has 'Small Fire' On Strait of Dover Service

4th March 2023 Irish Ferries

Dublin based operator, Irish Ferries has confirmed that one of its UK-France service ferries had encountered difficulties yesterday (3 March) evening following a small fire that broke out on board at 5.30pm. The ferry company in a statement said the…

Irish Ferries fails to reply to queries in relation to future of Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route as concern grows from crew and staff. The company operates the chartered-in ropax Blue Star on the Ireland-Wales linking Wexford and Pembrokeshire

Personnel Express Concern for Future of Irish Ferries’ Rosslare-Pembroke Dock Route

1st February 2023 Irish Ferries

Personnel working for Irish Ferries Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route have expressed growing concerns as rumours circulate that the company is to pull out of the Wexford ferryport and abandon the Ireland-Wales service. The ferry division of the Irish Continental Group (ICG) has…

Irish Ferries which is owned by ICG said its group revenues soared to €500.5m, up 78.9% compared with last year and a 62.1% increase on 2019. Above Isle of Innisfree, one of three ferries operating their service on the Dover-Calais route.

Irish Ferries Owner ICG Sees Revenues Rise Almost 80% as Covid Curbs Dropped

24th November 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries parent company Irish Continental Group (ICG), has reported a big jump in revenues as travel restrictions from Covid eased compared to the same time last year. ICG said its group revenues in the trading period 10 months prior…

Revenues at ICG for the first half of 2022 jumped by 85.8% to €263.1m from €141.6m the same time last year. Above AFLOAT adds Irish Ferries Dover-Calais which opened last summer, is operated by three vessels, including the latest, Isle of Inisheer which was introduced this year.

Revenues and Profits at ICG Surge as Travel Curbs Over

30th August 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Continental Group which owns Irish Ferries, has reported a surge in revenues and profits for the six month to the end of June as it saw a gradual return towards pre-Covid travel patterns after the disruption of the last…

Coach & Sail Is Back!... as for the first time since the pandemic, Bus Éireann announced the reopening of Expressway Eurolines Dublin-London service yesterday, having departed Dublin's Busáras (above) to board Irish Ferries sailing to Holyhead with onward travel to the UK capital. The same Eurolines service (871) also goes through Dublin Port's ferryport with connections to Birmingham.

Bus Éireann Restarts Eurolines Coach & Irish Ferries Services of Dublin-Birmingham/London

8th July 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish public transport operator, Bus Éireann announced the return of the Expressway Eurolines coach and Irish Ferries service linking Dublin with Birmingham and London when the first service reopened yesterday. According to Expressway-facebook, fares for the combined coach and ferry…

ICG sees increase in revenue with lifting of restrictions but higher costs bite. Total revenues across the group’s ferries division amounted to €98 million, up 165 per cent on the prior year. Above Afloat adds is the high-speed craft HSC Dublin Swift serving the Holyhead route.

Ferry Operator Forced to Raise Prices in Wake of Surging Fuel Costs

12th May 2022 Irish Ferries

The owner of Irish Ferries, the Irish Continental Group said it has been forced to pass on increased costs to consumers in the form of higher prices. In a trading update (see also) the ferry operator reported an 80 per…

ICG said revenue up to the end of April this year came in at €161.2 million - an increase of 80.5% on last year, but it was also up over 57% on 2019 levels.

Revenue Increases Sharply At Ferry Group ICG

11th May 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries parent company the Irish Continental Group has reported an increase in revenue for the first four months of the year. In a trading statement, the group provides comparisons to the same period last year as well as to…