Stena Line’s Rosslare-Fishguard route, which was abandoned altogether for nearly six weeks, is still facing difficulties maintaining its southern corridor service between the Irish and Welsh ports.
As the Irish Independent reports, maintenance work at the Welsh port's linkspan berth has meant that the ropax Stena Nordica, which was announced as the “permanent” ferry on the Rosslare-Fishguard route last year, is unable to berth at the port at the moment.
In the meantime, Afloat adds that the ‘Nordica’ is running Dublin-Holyhead sailings, allowing the route’s routine ferries to go for an annual overhaul. The service on the St. George’s Channel was suspended for a number of weeks while the ferry operator carried out a reshuffle, which culminated in a return for the 1981-built Stena Europe. The veteran vessel, which had operated on the route for 21 years after replacing cruiseferry Koningin Beatrix in March 2002, served the Ireland-Wales route up until last July.
There were also mechanical issues, which meant that the suspension of the Rosslare-Fishguard crossing went on for nearly six weeks while the ageing ferry went for repairs at Cammell Laird on Merseyside. On completion of works at the facility’s Tranmere Wet Basin, Afloat tracked the ferry to nearby Liverpool Docks where it remained for short period.
Stena Europe, however, was eventually able to resume service last month. Among recent passengers including those on 'foot' were enthusiastic Welsh rugby fans that travelled the Irish Sea route to enjoy the Wexford pubs for their Six Nations clash with Ireland.
The resumption of the service is welcomed by many; however, there have again been a number of issues that have resulted in major delays and the cancellation of some sailings.
More from the newspaper here on the route operated by the long-serving Stena Europe as seen above in 2010 with a previous livery scheme.
