Both operators Irish Ferries and Stena Line have withdrawn vessels, the former involved a UK-France link and the latter between Ireland and France; however, Brittany Ferries has stepped up by boosting capacity, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Irish Ferries: Dover-Calais
One of Irish Ferries 'original' three vessels on the Dover-Calais route, ropax Isle of Inisheer, Afloat, tracked transiting through the Irish Sea on Friday (25 Oct), having crossed the North Sea following annual overhaul dry-docking in Denmark. The smallest of the Strait of Dover trio made its first ever call to Dublin Port that day, the homeport of Irish Ferries and parent company ICG.
Afloat awaits a response from Irish Ferries as to the reason to remove Isle of Inisheer on the premier UK-France route, which saw a freight-space sharing charter agreement with P&O starting in August. The space-sharing is to ensure all ferries are fully loaded with freight at peak times and so enhance operational efficiency. In addition, as reported then, the partnership was to be extended to ‘passengers’ on the premier UK-France link where P&O operate a three-ship lineup.
Another former Strait of Dover ferry, Isle of Innisfree Afloat reported of its annual dry-docking but in Dunkerque led to Isle of Inisheer relieving in September for the first time on the Rosslare-Pembroke route. This was the fourth change of ferry on the southern Ireland-Wales link this year, among them from P&O the chartered ropax, Norbay.
When Isle of Inisheer made its inaugural call to Dublin Port, it was a brief stay. As the next day, Saturday (26 Oct), a mid-morning departure followed, which was observed as the twin-funnel ropax rounded the Dublin Bay buoy. Though the call provided an opportunity to carry out berthing trials at Dublin Ferryport’s Terminal 1 and after completing a passage to Holyhead, where the north Wales port involved trials at berth-linkspans used by both operators.
Later that night, Isle of Inisheer departed Holyhead and headed across the Irish Sea, bound for Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria. It is at this north-west England port where fleetmate, fast-ferry, Dublin Swift, having ceased seasonal service on the Ireland-Wales route, Afloat tracked to the port’s Buccleuch Dock, where it is wintering.
Isle of Inisheer now joins the fast ferry at the north-west of England port, though the lay up ropax is berthed in the neighbouring Ramsdan Dock.
Stena Line: Rosslare-Cherbourg
The second withdrawn ferry, Stena Line’s larger of two Rosslare-Cherbourg route ships, cruise ferry Stena Vision, took place last Sunday (27 Oct) by completing its final sailing with an arrival back at the Irish Port. This is a blow to holidaymakers on the continental route.
Its other much smaller route partner, ropax Stena Horizon, then reverted to being the sole ship that started the service for Stena a decade ago following the acquisition of Wexford based Celtic Link Ferries.
The development by Stena comes following a ‘strategic review’ of its only direct Ireland-France route, in which Afloat adds the Stena Vision only made its debut last summer. Stena instead now offers a three-day week service for freight and travel customers between Rosslare-Cherbourg by Stena Horizon and offers up to six crossings per week.
Stena, at the time of the Ireland-France route announcement, confirmed they will “deploy additional support vessels to the route during periods of peak demand from freight and travel customers.”
It would appear customer demand for Stena’s service did not reach sufficient loadings to justify the 1,300 capacity Stena Vision. The cruise ferry offered a wide choice of facilities including a jacuzzi. In addition to the 550 cars and freight capacity for 120 trailer units. This compared to the 750 passenger/160 car and 135 lorry ropax Stena Horizon.
After discharging its final passengers and freight, Stena Vision went offshore of Rosslare Europort to anchor. This was followed by first time calls to Dublin and Holyhead where it remains at a spare berth.
Brittany Ferries: Boost By Doubling Capacity on Rosslare-Cherbourg
Another competitor on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route is Brittany Ferries, which chartered from Condor Ferries, the ropax Commodore Clipper, to provide additional capacity with a ‘third’ weekly sailing from April, though the charter has since ceased.
However, Rosslare Europort has just welcomed the Breton's company's expansion of the Ireland-France services on the route on Monday (4 Nov.). This is to see 'four' services operated in each way up from two each way currently. The service will then increase further to five each way at the end of the month.
The route's existing ropax Cotentin (photo above), which runs one weekly return sailing on the route, will operate three of the five services each way on the expanded schedule.
