For almost a week, a ferry chartered from DFDS has been unable to operate Stena Line’s Rosslare-Cherbourg route, however, it expects to finally enter service tonight, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The company had cited technical issues, which led to all sailings being cancelled on the Ireland-France route since last Thursday, affecting passengers traveling for the St. Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday Weekend and holidaymakers this spring.
In addition, causing disruption to freight customers on the direct mainland continental connection of 3 sailings weekly in both directions operating on alternating days, apart from Mondays when the ferry remains at layover at the Irish port.
Commenting to Afloat, the operator of the Ireland-France service said, “Stena Line is currently working with DFDS to resolve the delay in charter vessel Patria Seaways commencing service on its Rosslare-Cherbourg service and apologizes for any inconvenience caused. Bookings can be made online at stenaline.co.uk and stenaline.ie or via our Contact Centre by calling from ROI on + 353 1 907 5555 or the UK on +44 344 770 7070.”
They added, ‘Stena Line fully expects to be in a position to sail as scheduled this evening.’
According to Stena's sailing update, Patria Seaways is scheduled to depart Rosslare tonight at 21:00 and arrive at Cherbourg tomorrow, Wednesday (19 March) at 16:00. This will be the first sailing by the DFDS ferry between Ireland and France, which takes 18 hours.
For those intending to travel on the first inbound sailing, Patria Seaways departs Cherbourg tomorrow (19 March) at 20:30 with an arrival at Rosslare on Thursday (20 March) at 13:30.
The charter of DFDS 18,332 gross tonnes Patria Seaways has replaced the route’s routine ropax Stena Horizon up to 14 April, while it covers for dry-docking of another ferry on the Irish Sea as previously reported.
In the above photo, Patria Seaways features the funnel livery of Danish operator DFDS Ferry, a division of its parent company, Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (DFDS), with its headquarters in Copenhagen.
The temporary ferry also handles 114 freight trailer units and offers a different onboard experience compared to Stena Horizon, with the vessel having a more limited range of facilities.
