A Stena Line-operated port in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, will be closed next month as it undergoes essential maintenance work for a period of just over two weeks.
As the Western Telegraph understands, the ropax Stena Nordica, which runs the Fishguard-Rosslare route, will be taken off service on 2 November to permit dry docking.
The southern Irish Sea route across the St. George's Channel will be covered by the chartering of the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s reserve ropax, MV Ben-my-Chree, from the 3rd to the 18th of November.
The Manx ferry is a roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) passenger ferry equipped to accommodate 650 passengers, 275 cars, and 90 freight trailers.
It was built in 1998 in the Netherlands, and in 2004 the Ben-My-Chree underwent a refit to enlarge the superstructure to increase capacity. A decade later a further £1.6 million was spent on the refit of the 12,747 gross ton ferry.
The relief ferry finishes on the route on 18 November, and it is understood that the Port of Fishguard will then be closed until 4 December.
According to route operator Stena Line, this will enable them to undertake planned maintenance at the Port of Fishguard, ‘reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to and investment in service quality and operational resilience.’
From 20 November to 4 December, Stena Line has entered into a ‘temporary’ agreement with Irish Ferries to share passenger and freight space on the Irish Sea.
Irish Ferries will also offer spaces out of South Wales on the Pembroke Dock-Rosslare route for Stena Line passengers and freight customers.
The agreement will see Stena Line customers travel on the Irish Ferries route with Stena Line personnel on hand at Pembroke Port to assist its customers.
At the same time, Stena Line will operate the Dublin-Holyhead service with capacity allocated for Irish Ferries customers.
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