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Second Former Irish Sea Ferry Joins New Zeeland’s ‘Interislander’ Service

1st December 2013
Second Former Irish Sea Ferry Joins New Zeeland’s ‘Interislander’ Service

#FerriesNewZelandRecently displaced from Baltic Sea service the Stena Alegra, the former Merchant Ferries ro-pax ferry Dawn Merchant on the Irish Sea, is to be chartered to New Zealand ferry operator Interislander, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The chartering of Stena Alegra follows damage last month to the starboard shaft and propeller of Aratere, the workhorse of the Interislander fleet which accounts for 45% of the total capacity of the three vessel operated Wellington-Picton route.

Stena Alegra is due to reach New Zealand in late December with the aim of having the 350 passenger vessel in service by early January 2014.

Interislander's decision to charter Stena Alegra, which is owned by Stena Finance BV and managed by Northern Marine Management, will assist greatly with capacity issues during the current peak summer period as Aratere is expected to be out of service for the next six months while repairs are carried out in dry-dock.

Fleetmates of the Aratere are the Arahura and as previously reported on Afloat.ie, Irish Continental Group's chartered Kaitaki which was launched as Isle of Innisfree in 1995 for ICG subsidiary Irish Ferries routes on the Irish Sea. Her charter was extended earlier this year for a further four years until 2017.

Incidentally this is a year shorter to the timeframe of the chartered Epsilon to Irish Ferries, due to enter service this month on Dublin-Holyhead route.

In addition to Epsilon boosting capacity on the Irish Sea route, the Italian flagged vessel is to launch a weekend only but year round operated Dublin-Cherbourg route starting in mid-January 2014.

 

Published in Ferry
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!