#ferrynews - W.B.Yeats has at last completed the final leg in a delivery voyage to Dublin Port by making a maiden call to the Irish capital this morning, though amid controversy, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Irish Continenal Group (ICG) which ordered the 54,000 gross tonnage ferry from German shipbuilders, FSG in Flensburg, was beset with delays from contractors supplying the yard. This prevented the debut of the 1,800 passenger/1,200 vehicle newbuild enter service this summer on the Dublin-Cherbourg route, causing cancellations to thousands of holidaymakers.

Irish Ferries now has the largest ferry ever to operate on the direct Ireland-France route when services to and from mainland Europe are scheduled from mid-March 2019.

Among the facilities, given names connected to W.B. Yeats, one of the most significant figures of 20th century literature, is The Maud Gonne Bar & Lounge and Innisfree Club Class Lounge. There's also the entertainment venue of The Abbey & The Peacock Cinema & Lounge. As for accommodation there are 440 cabins including Luxury suites incorporating private balconies and a dedicated butler service. 

The arrival to Dublin Port, however of the Cypriot flagged 194m cruiseferry is against the backdrop of Brexit and reaction from a variety of quarters, as ICG recently announced they are unlikely to operate the long running Rosslare based routes to France in 2019. The company added they will continue to keep this situation under review and said the W.B. Yeats will operate from Dublin to Cherbourg (see recent call) up to 4 days per week.

The decision drew swift critism from the Irish Government which has called on Irish Ferries to reconsider its plans, by retaining the use of the south-east port. This given the backdrop of whatever Brexit scenario looms on the horizon. 

Irish Ferries also commented that "a majority of our customers have a clear preference for the more central location and easy access of Dublin".

Some customers however of Irish Ferries, went online to the ferry's facebook to express their disquiet. While the Irish Road Haulage Association speaking on RTE Radio One yesterday said that the “vague statement” that Irish Ferries is “unlikely” to operate a service between Rosslare and France next summer, means “they are open to negotiation”.

Should Irish Ferries pull out of Rosslare, Stena Line already operate a service between Rosslare and Cherbourg, having taken over Celtic Link in recent years. Stena Line's senior executive, Ian Hampton speaking on RTE Radio, warned that a no-deal Brexit may affect food shipments as traders seek to bypass Great Britain.

When W.B. Yeats is introduced in early 2019, the ship will also be the biggest ever ferry to serve any route from Ireland, eclipsing Irish Ferries Ulysses. The Finnish built cruiseferry when introduced in 2001, became the flagship of the fleet on the Dublin-Holyhead route to cope with increasing demand during the boom of the 'Celtic Tiger'.

The Ulysses continues operating the core Irish Sea service, as does the Oscar Wilde, which having stopped Rosslare-Cherbourg (and seasonal Roscoff service) in recent months, also serves the year-round operated Dublin-Cherbourg route. 

Oscar Wilde, which at 31 years old, no longer features on the operators website depicting the ferry 'fleet' which would seem to suggest other plans for the ageing ferry. 

The rest of the fleet are the chartered in ropax Epsilon serving both Holyhead and Cherbourg out of Dublin. The seasonal only fastferry Dublin Swift also on the Anglesea port route and final member of the fleet, Isle of Inishmore which links Rosslare and Pembroke in south Wales.