Irish Ferries News

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…

The Greek flagged chartered-in ferry Blue Star 1 AFLOAT adds made a maiden Dublin-Cherbourg round trip this morning on the Irish Ferries direct route to France . The Attica Enterprises (Superfast Ferries) owned Blue Star 1 is capable of 27 knots, was observed in Dublin Bay with an arrival in the port some 45 minutes earlier than scheduled. The ferry is relieving the 22.5 knot W.B. Yeats while in H&W Belfast to be fitted with a new replacement upper bow door.

Irish Ferries Chartered Blue Star 1 Completes Maiden Dublin-Cherbourg Crossings While W.B. Yeats Is Off Service

5th May 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries chartered-in Blue Star 1 this morning completed a maiden Dublin-Cherbourg round trip, as the main Ireland-France route cruiseferry, W.B. Yeats is off service while at H&W Belfast, writes Jehan Ashmore. As reported only in mid-March, W.B.Yeats was previously…

Chartered-in ferry Blue Star 1 AFLOAT adds, normally serves Irish Ferries Rosslare-Pembroke Dock, is temporary running instead on the Dublin-Cherbourg route as cruiseferry W.B. Yeats is in H&W Belfast to be fitted with a new replacement upper bow door. The Greek-flagged ferry is seen at Rosslare Europort from where it made a debut on the Irish Sea last year.

Rosslare-Pembroke Dock Route Currently Suspended

5th May 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries Rosslare -Pembroke Dock ferry route is currently suspended. On the operator's sailing updates webpage, the Ireland-Wales route has a warning update. It reads: "Irish Ferries regrets to advise that the 8.45 Rosslare to Pembroke Blue Star 1 sailing…

UK transport secretary proposes new law to ensure minimum wage for ferry crews. The cheaper labour model operated by Irish Ferries has allowed it to gain a competitive advantage over P&O on the English Channel (Dover-Calais) route. AFLOAT adds above is the Irish operator's Isle of Innisfree entering Dover where berthed P&O's Pride of Canterbury, noting a twin also in port, Pride of Kent according to Sky News today, has become the second ferry to be detained by the MCA following failures after an inspection was held.

Legislative Plans by UK Government Against P&O Could Impact Irish Ferries

29th March 2022 Irish Ferries

Plans by the British Government to prevent ferry companies operating out of UK ports paying below the country’s minimum wage could have implications for Irish Ferries, which is owned by listed company Irish Continental Group. According to the The Irish…

Irish Ferries MV W.B. Yeats sustained 'Minor Damage' in heavier weather than expected in the Irish Sea last Sunday. See video below.

Irish Ferries MV W.B. Yeats Sustains 'Minor Damage' in Heavier Weather than Forecast

16th March 2022 Irish Ferries

The Irish Ferries W.B. Yeats ran into heavy weather on its Dublin to Cherbourg route last Sunday morning (13th March) resulting in damage to its upper car deck as the video below shows. The 200-metre long ferry was forced to turn around…

ICG said the number of cars it carried on its division, Irish ferries last year jumped by 48.5%. Above Afloat adds W.B. Yeats berthed at Dublin Port loading vehicles bound for Holyhead

Revenues at Irish Continental Group for 2021 Sail 20% Higher Despite Covid Curbs

10th March 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries owner Irish Continental Group has reported higher revenues and earnings for 2021 after what it called another challenging year for the group, with a continuation of travel restrictions due to Covid-19. ICG said its revenues for the year…

Irish Continental Group successfully defended itself against a challenge from the accounting watchdog over its decision not to write down the value of its fleet at the height of the Covid-19 crisis. Above Irish Ferries high speed craft (HSC) Dublin Swift which operates a seasonal fast-ferry service on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

Irish Continental Group, Fends off Accounting Watchdog Challenge Over Value of Ferries

10th February 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Continental Group (ICG) parent company of Irish Ferries, has successfully defended itself against a challenge from the accounting watchdog over its decision not to write down the value of its fleet of ferries at the height of the Covid-19…

Increased Sailings: Irish Ferries chartered in ropax Epsilon berthed at the Port of Holyhead. It was thought the morning and evening service would not return - but it's now bookable.

Increase of Irish Ferries Sailings on Holyhead-Dublin Route

8th February 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries services have been strengthened on a key Irish Sea route with the return of two daily sailings, reports NorthWalesLive. The operator have restored a morning and evening service from Holyhead to Dublin which will be operated by the…

Travel test requirements end in Ireland and England this week. Above Irish Ferries which uses Dublin Port's ferryport terminal (No.1).

From Today End of Border Test Restrictions Spells Better Times Ahead for the Travel Industry

6th January 2022 Irish Ferries

As the more dominant the Omicron variant of the virus has become, paradoxically the more redundant restrictions on the travel sector to halt its spread have looked. Now that the variant is everywhere it’s pointless trying to keep it out…

Dover's December Debut: Afloat this week tracked Isle of Innisfree on the Strait of Dover (above on berthing trials at the Port of Dover). The newest addition to Irish Ferries (ICG) fleet, today entered service on the UK-France route of Dover-Calais. The former RMT Dover-Ostende ferry Prins Filip since 1992 served several short-Strait operators and routes, now joins fleetmate Isle of Inishmore as second ship, doubling sailing frequency between post Brexit Britain and the mainland Europe/ EU member state. Afloat also adds the name of Isle of Innisfree revives a former ropax custom-built for Irish Ferries Dublin-Holyhead route launched in 1995.

Irish Ferries Second Strait of Dover Ferry Makes Maiden Crossing to Calais

16th December 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries, a subsidiary of the Dublin based Irish Continental Group plc (ICG), have today added further capacity with the introduction of Isle of Innisfree to their existing short-Straits service of Dover-Calais. Since Irish Ferries opened the new service out…

HAT-TRICK: An image of how Irish Ferries latest acquired tonnage Ciudad de Mahon, is to look when the company's livery is applied to the yet to be renamed ropax. This vessel is to further boost capacity as the third ship on their Dover-Calais service, but not until Q1 of 2022.

Irish Ferries to Grow Frequency by 50% with Third Dover-Calais Ship

29th November 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries has announced the addition of a third ro-ro ferry to its Dover to Calais route as Afloat reported last week. The ship is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2022, joining the Isle of Inishmore…

Irish Ferries parent owner, ICG released trading update on Volumes. Above the chartered in ropax Blue Star 1 at Rosslare Harbour from where it operates to Pembroke, south Wales.

Increase in Revenues at Irish Ferries, Also Fuel Costs Rise

24th November 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries which is owned by the Irish Continental Group (ICG) has seen its revenue improve, helped by the easing of travel restrictions across the European Union in mid-July. ICG has reported revenue of €279.7m for the year to date to…

ICG, owners of Irish Ferries, has acquired the ropax ferry Ciudad de Mahón from Transmed, a Spanish ferry company. The purchase will see the ship become the third ferry on Dover-Calais with sailings by the ferry due to take place in the first quarter of 2022.

ICG Acquire Another Ferry for Irish Ferries Dover-Calais Route to Enter Service in 2022

24th November 2021 Irish Ferries

The Irish Continental Group (ICG) which owns Irish Ferries, has announced yet another recent acquisition, this time a Spanish-Balearic Islands passenger ro-ro ferry which will be their third ship to enter service on the Dover-Calais route, writes Jehan Ashmore ICG…

Irish Ferries announced the purchase of cruise ferry Calais Seaways which is to be renamed Isle of Innisfree following rebranding while drydocking prior to entering service in December. AFLOAT adds this ferry had until three months ago operated for DFDS Dover-Calais route until replaced by newbuild Côte d'Opale, one of the expanding E-Flexer class series built for Stena Ro Ro which has chartered the vessel to the operator which competes with Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries on the Strait of Dover link between the UK and France.

Irish Ferries to Introduce Second Ferry on Dover-Calais Route Doubling Frequency

5th November 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries announced today the addition of a second ro-ro cruise ferry Isle of Innisfree to its Dover-Calais route joining Isle of Inishmore, which was launched just months ago onto the premier UK-France link, writes Jehan Ashmore. Under the terms…

The Irish Ferries operated Isle of Inishmore while in the Strait of Dover was forced to stop to rescue more than a dozen migrants in a sinking dinghy and return them to Calais in France. Irish Ferries only began the UK-France service in the summer, this was a significant first for the company to run a link between Britain and mainland Europe.

Irish Ferries Dover-Calais Ferry Stops to Rescue Migrants on Sinking Boat and Returns to France

4th November 2021 Irish Ferries

An Irish Ferries ship operating on the Strait of Dover was forced to stop to rescue more than a dozen migrants in a sinking dinghy and return them to France, reports The Telegraph. Crew on the Isle of Inishmore threw…