Irish Ferries chartered-in Blue Star 1 this morning completed a maiden Dublin-Cherbourg round trip, as the main Ireland-France route cruiseferry, W.B. Yeats is off service while at H&W Belfast, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As reported only in mid-March, W.B.Yeats was previously in H&W Belfast when the cruiseferry had repairs to the upper car-deck following damage in heavy seas. On this occasion, quayside-based works are according to the Western Telegraph to see a new upper bow door to be fitted.

Blue Star 1 which just over a year ago was introduced on the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route sees sailings on the Ireland-Wales link placed under suspension.

This has enabled the temporary transfer of the Greek-flagged Blue Star 1 to maintain services on the direct Ireland-mainland continental link up to 7 May. According to Agriland, however the W.B. Yeats is expected to remain in dry dock until Monday, May 9.

In the meantime, Irish Ferries second Dublin-Holyhead conventional route ferry Epsilon is according to their website sailing update, is to also enter service on the Ireland-France link, tomorrow, 6 May. As regards fast-craft crossings by Dublin Swift, they are running as normal as is the cruiseferry Ulysses on the Ireland-Wales service.

Irish Ferries use of a two-ship service on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route will assist traffic demand as rivals Stena Line and their ropax Stena Horizon remains at H&W, Belfast's shipyard dry-dock. The ferry company website sailing update stated" Stena Line regret to advise due to operational reasons there is no sailing of the Stena Horizon, the next scheduled departure is Tuesday May 10th, subject to change".

Freight-ferries operating for Stena continue to maintain services on the Wexford-Normandy connection in competition with Brittany Ferries passenger/freight service.  

As for Irish Ferries Dover-Calais service, Afloat in late April tracked the Isle of Inisheer make its debut on the UK-France link, however not immediately as the route's third-ferry service. This was due to the newcomer relieving Isle of Inishmore, which went for a scheduled dry-docking in nearby Dunkerque East.

This meant the Isle of Inisheer, acquired from a Spanish operator, join Isle of Innisfree to maintain just a two-ship service on the busy short-sea service launched in June of last year by the Isle of Inishmore.

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.