Irish Ferries News

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…

Irish Ferries was awarded 'Best Ferry/Fixed Linked Operator' at the UK Group Leisure & Travel Awards. The Dublin based company in the summer launched a new service on the Dover-Calais route, a first for the operator by linking the UK and mainland Europe which is served by Isle of Inishmore.

Irish Ferries Voted ‘Best Ferry or Fixed Linked Operator’ at UK Group Leisure & Travel Awards

2nd November 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries has been awarded the title of ‘Best Ferry or Fixed Linked Operator’ for the third consecutive year at the UK Group Leisure and Travel Awards 2021 – a momentous achievement following a challenging year for global travel. The annual awards ceremony…

Irish Ferries which is owned by ICG, said its half year revenues rose by 8.3% to €141.6m. Above is the chartered-in blue hull ferry Blue Star 1 which operates the Rosslare-Pembroke route.

Irish Ferries Owner ICG Continues to See Impact of Covid On Ferry Business

27th August 2021 Irish Ferries

Higher revenues for the six months to the end of June have been reported by the Irish Continental Group, but a drop in earnings before interest and tax as the Covid-19 pandemic continued to create an "exceptionally challenging" trading environment…

High-Speed Craft returns: Irish Ferries HSC Dublin Swift's summer sailings finally reopened on the Dublin-Holyhead route, following easing of travel restrictions on both sides of the Irish Sea. The fast-ferry operates two round trips daily on the Ireland-UK link and as above vehicles embark on board the catamaran craft when berthed at the north Wales port.

Irish Ferries High-Speed Craft Returns to Service During Dublin-Holyhead Route's High-Season

7th August 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries high-speed craft Dublin Swift finally returned to service on the Dublin-Holyhead route with holidaymakers travelling during this summer's key peak-season month, writes Jehan Ashmore. With the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions introduced last month, Irish Ferries this week resumed…

The new Irish Ferries kiosks at the Port of Dover, where the company launched today cruiseferry Isle of Inishmore on the premier route to Calais. Briggs Marine is providing full landside port and terminal operations services at the UK's biggest ferryport linking mainland Europe.

Briggs Marine Secured Contract from Irish Ferries to Support New Dover-Calais Ro-Pax Service

29th June 2021 Irish Ferries

Scotland based Briggs Marine, a provider of marine and environmental services, has secured a contract with Irish Ferries at the Port of Dover. The contract is to provide full landside port and terminal operations services at the ferry port for its…

NEW MARKET ROUTE: Irish Ferries newly launched Dover-Calais route, with up to 10 sailings a day serviced by the refurbished cruiseferry Isle of Inishmore as above AFLOAT adds seen in advance of today's morning inaugural sailing between Britain and France, the link marking a significant first for the company. Also above Dover Harbour Board tug DHB Doughty is 'dressed overall' on the occasion of the newcomer's arrival earlier this month at the Kent port in south-east England.

Irish Ferries First UK-France Service Sailing Departs Port of Dover to Calais

29th June 2021 Irish Ferries

Dublin based operator, Irish Ferries saw its cruiseferry Isle of Inishmore this morning set sail on an inaugural sailing from the Port of Dover to Calais in direct competition with P&O Ferries and DFDS. As Afloat previously reported, tickets went on…

The White Cliffs of Dover: Tickets now on sale as Irish Ferries will operate a Dover-Calais ferry service next week (Tuesday, 29 June). AFLOAT adds Isle of Inishmore relocated from Rosslare-Pembroke duties in April went for dry-docking in Brest, France followed by modifications works in Odense, Denmark. Among shipyard works, see the bow's 'cow-catcher' to enable combatibility at ro-ro berths at the UK's busiest ferryport (above) and the French port where the ferry also arrived on Saturday to carry out berthing trials. Note also at the bow, ICG /Irish Ferries houseflag (and on Irish Sea fleetmates) also operate UK 'land-bridge' routes connecting mainland Europe, will provide customers an inclusive through service.

Dover-Calais Newcomer Irish Ferries Put Tickets On Sale for Service Starting Next Week

22nd June 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries' move into the competitive Dover-Calais route is where the operator now has tickets on sale, reports KentOnline, in addition pictures released to give a first glimpse as to what to expect. The new service launches next Tuesday, June…

Chief executive of the Port of Dover, Doug Bannister says he is 'delighted to welcome Irish Ferries' and it would 'complement the resilient services currently provided'. Above AFLOAT' file photo Isle of Inishmore which is to start a new 'freight' service on the premier Dover-Calais route next month. The cruiseferry is seen with trucks on the linkspan at Rosslare Europort, from where a replacement ferry Blue Star 1 currently operates to Pembroke in south Wales.

English And French Unions to Fight Arrival of Irish Ferries New Service on Dover-Calais Route

26th May 2021 Irish Ferries

UK and French unions claim the firm, Irish Ferries, which already operates Ireland-UK and Ireland-France routes, is aggressively low-cost and will seriously damage existing services and result in a lowering of standards. Cross-Channel (Strait of Dover) ferry firms are hoping…

ICG's passenger division, Irish Ferries carried 15,900 cars in the months from January to May - a decrease of 62.5% on the previous year. Above Afloat's photo of a van on the linkspan leading to the cruiseferry W.B. Yeats when berthed at Dublin Port.

Trading Revenues at Irish Ferries Down 9% So Far this Year

13th May 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Continental Group, owner of Irish Ferries said its group revenue for the first four months of 2021 came to €89.3m, an increase of 0.4% compared with last year and a 12.7% decrease on 2019. As RTE News reports, the…

Paul Grant Stena Line's Trade Director for the Irish Sea

Stena Line & Irish Ferries Call for Restoration of the Common Travel Area Into Ireland

6th May 2021 Ferry

Irish Ferries and Stena Line, the two key players in Ireland’s ferry industry, are today calling for the reopening of the Common Travel Area (CTA) at the earliest opportunity. They also welcome comments made last week by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar,…