#DunLaoghaireFerryCruise - Today a month ago was the first full day in service of Stena Superfast X on the Dublin Port-Holyhead route. By coincidence, today also marks the HSS Stena Explorer's maiden commercial crossing to Holyhead in April 1996, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The launch in March this year of Stena Superfast X on the Dublin Port route effectively replaced HSS Stena Explorer from the alternative Dun Laoghaire route to Holyhead. The fast-ferry catamaran craft which served almost two decades on the historic Ireland-Wales link was withdrawn last year with the final sailing on 9 September.

This leaves Superfast X kept busy running alongside route partner Stena Adventurer to Holyhead, the port in Anglesey where the HSS craft remains idle in a laid-up state.

The 19,638 tonnes craft is a sad sight as she languishes in the inner harbour completed in 1880 as the first purpose built rail and sea terminal of the north Wales port.

Afloat.ie has contacted Stena as to the fate of HSS Stena Explorer which they say at present that there has been no decision made on her future.

When the HSS (High-speed Seaservice) Stena Explorer was introduced, she represented a revolutionary leap in the world ferry industry due in part to her large freight vehicle capability. In addition the adaptation of aviation gas turbine technology. This powered water jets allowing for 99 minutes crossings! during the early heyday years.

It was the sheer sense of space which I recall vividly from making that maiden sailing as she set off from the unique linkspan structure. Also the huge panorama widow at the bow affording excellent views as she departed the mouth in Dun Laoghaire and sped smoothly across tthe Irish Sea.

The single passenger deck layout been split-level was for the majority of the interior very much open plan. Though the opposite applied in terms of having a very restricted open deck space at the stern. From there, the craft had a rather ungainly appearance but was redeemed with a striking futuristic bow lines and the lattice window structure amidships. 

A fellow former Irish Sea based sister, HSS Stena Voyager as previously reported on Afloat.ie was scrapped in 2013. She was towed to Öresundsvarvet shipyard in Landskrona, Sweden and was dismantled by Stena Recycling in which parts were re-used for furniture!

Stena Voyager was withdrawn from service two years previously following the closure of the Belfast-Stranraer route. This led to Stena switching Scottish ports to neighbouring Cairnryan also on Lough Ryan.

The relocation of ports involved constructing a purpose built terminal at a site close to Cairnryan named Loch Ryan Port. The facility is from where a pair of sisters of Superfast X operate on the North Channel route on the Belfast-Cairnryan link.

Given the new dynamics of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company's proposed €18m cruise-berth facility, the former ferry vehicle marshalling area is to be transformed for cruise-related coaches and a taxi-rank.  

To what degree will this proposal have should a new operator be found to reopen a seasonal-only service as sought by DLHC. According to the port authority such operations if proved an option would not resume until 2016.