Due to ongoing technical issues, Stena Line was forced to further cancel sailings on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route, as a chartered ferry from DFDS since Thursday remains out of service, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Patria Seaways is a replacement on the Ireland-France route, while Stena Horizon is away for a month, which is to include its dry-docking period. The first cancelled sailing from Rosslare Europort on 13 March also resulted in the return from Cherbourg, putting all sailings out of their scheduled set days based on alternating days in both directions.
The knock-on effect from the disruption to the schedule has led to all sailings being cancelled in the lead-up and over the St. Patrick’s Day bank holiday weekend. Customers were given the choice of alternative routes. Among the cancelled sailings was a departure from Cherbourg on Saturday with an arrival to Rosslare on Sunday, which would have given time for tourists and travellers heading for today’s nationwide festival.
Afloat has sought a comment from the operator given the disruption.
As reported on Friday, the next available sailing was rescheduled for St. Patrick’s Day, but from France, this too was cancelled. This was to have seen the ferry depart Cherbourg tonight and arrive in Rosslare tomorrow at lunch hour.
In another update, the Patria Seaways next available sailing has been deferred to tomorrow (18 March), with a sailing from Rosslare at 21:00 and arriving at Cherbourg the next day at 16:00. Passengers can consult Stena for any further sailing updates here.
Stena Horizon, it should be noted, since Friday, took up sailings on the Dublin-Holyhead route to enable one of the Ireland-Wales ferries, Stena Estrid, to cover the Belfast-Cairnryan route, while Stena Superfast VII undergoes dry-docking at Harland & Wolff.
Its route partner ferry, Stena Superfast VIII, remains in service on the North Channel link to Scotland.
