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Displaying items by tag: Seatruck Reveal 3rd vessel

#ThirdFreightFerry - Seatruck Ferries have confirmed to Afloat.ie as to the identity of the third vessel to be introduced on the Dublin – Liverpool route. She is the Clipper Ranger which is scheduled to take up service early next week, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The introduction of this third freight-ferry as previously reported is to bring additional midweek departures on much needed peak capacity sailings. The Ireland-England route according to Seatruck is attracting increasing support from unaccompanied traffic.

Clipper Ranger is a 'R' class freight-ferry with capacity for 65 units and 1,057 lane metres. She is to operate six sailings mid-week (three in each direction).

The move to add Clipper Ranger is in direct response to the demand and feedback from freight customers changing needs of the Irish market. Driver shortages are causing operators to reassess their traditional accompanied method.

She will join the route’s FSG ‘Heysham-max’ class sisters Seatruck Progress and Seatruck Power, each with 150 units and 2,166 lane metres. Together the trio of freight ferries will operate 30 departures each week.

For more including news on the Dublin-Heysham route, click to the previous report.

Published in Ferry

About Quarter Tonners

The Quarter Ton Class is a sailing class of the International Offshore Rule racing the Quarter Ton Cup between 1967 and 1996 and from 2005 until today.

The class is sailed by smaller keelboats of similar size and is likely the world's most-produced keelboat class.

The Ton, Half, Quarter, etc. 'classes' were each given a 'length' and yacht designers had almost free rein to work the hull shapes and measurements to achieve the best speed for that nominal length.

The Ton Rules produced cranky and tender boats without actual downwind speed. Measurement points created weird, almost square hull shapes with longish overhangs.

They were challenging to sail optimally and lost value very quickly as any new wrinkle (e.g. 'bustles') to take advantage of the rule made older boats very quickly uncompetitive.

Although its heyday was 30 years ago, the boat class continues to make its presence felt by holding its own in terms of popularity against some fern race fleets.