Irish Continental Group (ICG) newly chartered cruiseferry, the Star recently renamed Oscar Wilde for Irish Ferries service, transited the Strait of Dover last night on its delivery voyage from Estonia to Ireland, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The cruiseferry which had operated Tallink Grupp's Tallinn-Helsinki 2-hour shuttle service, is according to Irish Ferries to ‘initially’ operate on the Rosslare-Pembroke route from early June and into the bussier summer months.

Before making its Ireland-Wales debut, berthing trials are to take place at both ports followed by a rebranding into the company's all white livery scheme which is to take place at Harland & Wolff, Belfast. Unlike the first Oscar Wilde that served Irish Ferries on their former Rosslare based routes to France, where this predecessor had sported a dark blue hull.

ICG's charter of Star from Tallink, according to the Baltic state based operator is to start with a 20-month term, with a possible extension period of two plus two years. Also as part of the contract is the option to acquire the 2,080 passenger/134 cabin ferry which has ample vehicle/freight space of 2,380 lane meters.

Oscar Wilde is to replace the current Rosslare-Pembroke ferry Blue Star 1 in June, as then the charter period expires of the Greek flagged vessel which entered service in 2021. This led to releasing Isle of Inishmore to launch Irish Ferries first ever UK-France service on the busy and competitive Dover-Calais route.

So when Oscar Wilde sailed through the Strait of Dover, it was apt as of the three Irish Ferries 'Isles' running on the short-sea UK-France route, the Isle of Inishmore (tracked by Afloat) from Dover was ahead of the bow of Oscar Wilde when making a crossing to Calais. At the same time, Isle of Inishfree was close to the UK port while Isle of Inisheer was berthed at the French port.

Another French port, Cherbourg, is where Oscar Wilde had called this morning, 13 May, and from where the 185m cruiseferry carried out berthing trials at two link-spans. Such an exercise indicates the potential for Irish Ferries to redeploy Oscar Wilde after completion of high season service on the Ireland-Wales route, as long as another ferry can be secured to take over the Wexford-Pembrokeshire link.

As according to NIFerry, it reports of industry information that suggests the Oscar Wilde will replace the chartered ropax Epsilon which operates on the Dublin-Holyhead/Cherbourg rotation. If such speculation becomes reality, this would take place later this year as Irish Ferries is said to be exploring options for a permanent ship on the Rosslare- Pembroke route and based on current timetables, such a change is likely to occur in early November.

Afloat adds by re-deploying Oscar Wilde on the Ireland-France route, Irish Ferries would then be able to offer more of a match than the freight-orientated (ropax) Epsilon, in terms of increased freight and passenger capacity and superior facilities as featured on W.B Yeats. The flagship built in Germany in 2018, but did not enter service until the following year, firstly made its maiden voyage on the Irish Sea before a debut on the continental connection to France.

It is a decade ago when ICG chartered in the then named Cartour Epsilon to open the Dublin-Cherbourg route for Irish Ferries, though the first such service linking the Irish capital and France was established by P&O Ferries albeit for a short timeframe in the early 2000’s.

In 2014 the ropax was renamed Epsilon and has since continously operated the Wales-Ireland-France routes throughout the year along with the cruiseferry flagship, W.B. Yeats. Sailing times on the continental route subject to which ferry, vary between 17 and 19 hours.

Irish Ferries claim the Oscar Wilde has the largest passenger capacity on the Irish Sea and the likewise its duty-free shop which will be a destination for passengers. In addition they describe the ship to have a possible top speed of 27.5 knots, making it the fastest.

Such speed is not a necessity during this delivery voyage of Oscar Wilde in which Afloat has tracked at various stages of the cruiseferry which has been re-flagged and re-registered.

At time of writing, Oscar Wilde is running at 15 knots while in the west bound shipping lane of the English Channel and is due to make its maiden port of call to Ireland tomorrow morning, 14 May.