Transfennica's Timca, on short-term freight charter for ICG's Irish Ferries Dublin-Wales/France routes, is due to end when Norbay returns to Rosslare this weekend, releasing Oscar Wilde, if all goes according to plan, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Since late February, the chartering of the container ro-ro (con-ro) Timca with 200 trailer units has permitted Irish Ferries also chartered-in cruise ferry Oscar Wilde from the Tallink Grupp to provide relief cover for the Rosslare-Pembroke route’s ropax Norbay, also on charter from P&O. This allowed the ropax to proceed with a planned bi-annual dry-docking overhaul at A&P Falmouth, Cornwall.
In recent days, Afloat.ie tracked the Norbay, having departed the dry dock and shifted within Falmouth to a nearby layover jetty. The 1992 built ropax was due to return to Rosslare-Pembroke Dock duties last week, however, this has been deferred on successive sailings. Having consulted the Irish Ferries online booking page, with Norbay scheduled for a return on Sunday, 24 March, except for the 02:45 sailing from the Welsh port, with the operator citing operational reasons, but added that passengers can be accommodated on the later afternoon sailing of 14:45.
This update (at the time of writing) should be taken with caution, as a daily inspection is required given the fluidity of operations within the ferry sector. It should also be noted that the Norbay given that it is a freight-oriented ferry, has basic passenger facilities, is described as an ‘economy’ ferry, featuring a simple restaurant and bar, a small shop/reception desk, and en-suite cabins.
Should the ropax resume its Rosslare roster schedule next week, this will lead to the ceasing of Timca’s time with Irish Ferries and allow Oscar Wilde to return to its double Dublin-based role in advance of the shoulder season, operating both its Dublin-Holyhead and Dublin-Cherbourg routes in tandem with W.Y. Yeats, the route’s main cruise ferry.
The presence of Norbay has so far not been smooth sailing on the southern corridor, between Wexford and Pembrokeshire, as the design of the vessel poses limitations with restricted access to the main passenger deck, as there is no lift but only a steep staircase. Therefore, this is unsuitable for a person with a disability or reduced mobility, or for young children and buggies.
In addition, no ‘foot’ passengers can be conveyed on Norbay, which is another factor for Irish Ferries, which really requires the Rosslare-Pembroke route to have a much more suitable and longer-term ferry introduced soon.
As previously reported, P&O confirmed to Afloat.ie of the time charter of the Norbay to ICG for up to six months, (ending May) with an option to extend the ropax charter; however, recently, ‘Ferry News’ inquired for a status update from ICG, but no response was forthcoming from the Dublin based group.
Currently, the ‘economy’ ferry is mentioned on the booking site, (just as an example: is still operating at the end of August), concluding the busy high season. Unless ICG has managed at short notice to charter another but superior ferry, this remains open to speculation. Noting that the charter of Timca has been 'freight-only', perhaps an indicator of the difficulty in securing a passenger ferry.
As for the Timca of Transfennica Nederland B.V. on charter duties also serving the Dublin-Cherbourg route (see photo: bound for France), that led to the con-ro taking the roster of Oscar Wilde, which last year made its debut for Irish Ferries on the Rosslare-Pembroke route. This was however temporary given that its transfer in February to Dublin with a debut on the two routes was only in place for just over a fortnight before its recent re-introduction at the Wexford ferry port.
In the meantime, with Oscar Wilde off the Dublin-Holyhead route, Ulysses continues to be the only ‘passenger’ ferry, though at least the timing of Timca takes place during a quieter time of the year, with the exception of last weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day.
The shoulder-season, however, is next; by that stage the fast -ferry, Dublin Swift (currently in Cardiff) is set to return in May, though this season will be shorter for the high-speed craft, given the introduction of Oscar Wilde. The cruise ferry has a considerably larger capacity of 1,900 when compared to its predecessor, the chartered Epsilon, a ropax with just 500 passengers, which likewise was the second ship to W.B. Yeats, serving on both the Ireland-Wales/France routes.
