Blue Star 1, a Greek flagged ferry which Irish Continental Group (ICG) has chartered for their Irish Ferries Rosslare Europort-Pembroke Dock route, has departed Piraeus on a repositioning voyage, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Greek owned Attica Group passenger ro-ro ferry built in 2000, departed Piraeus on Wednesday, is due to arrive at the Co. Wexford ferryport this Monday. Currently, the near 30,000 gross tonnage ferry is offshore of Algeria, north Africa.

Upon entering service on the southern corridor, Blue Star 1 will replace Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore which after a scheduled dry-docking, will launch ICG's first ever UK-France service, on the prestigious Dover-Calais short-sea route. This is due to take place in June.

This major entry by ICG onto the competitive Strait of Dover service, will enable Irish Ferries to provide hauliers an all inclusive UK land-bridge operation with two existing Irish Sea routes.

ICG's strategic move now consolidates and compliments the continental direct Dublin-Cherbourg to mainland Europe, where Irish Ferries already offers freight hauliers in particular an alternative on the 'Brexit-buster/bypass' route.

When Blue Star 1 enters service this month on the Rosslare-Pembroke route, Isle of Inishmore's departure will mark the end of the last and only 'Isle' named themed ferry serving between Ireland and the UK. 

The theme Irish Ferries introduced following the acquisition by ICG of the ailing Irish State owned B&I Line in 1992 which included the company's 'last' Leinster built by Verolme Cork Dockyard (V.C.D.) in 1981.

During Irish Ferries career, the ferry was renamed Isle of Inishmore and subsequently Isle of Inishturk, this enabled to free up that name for ICG's second custom built newbuild cruiseferry, the Isle of Inishmore.

Upon entry of the Isle of Inishmore in 1997, originally for the Dublin-Holyhead route, that led to displacing Isle of Inishfree, ICG's first newbuild cruiseferry, which transferred to the Rosslare-Pembroke route.

This led to the sale of 'Inishturk' to Canadian east coast operator, CTMA Traversier, however the ferry was withdrawn on St. Patrick's Day and is to be dismantled as a newly acquired Spanish ferry is due to enter service. 

Afloat will have more to report on this story of a rare Irish built cross-channel car ferry.