#EXTRA FERRY - Irish Ferries says their decision to have additional capacity over Christmas on their UK-Irish routes is vindicated by increased demand from those with Irish roots wanting to be sure of getting home over the festive season, whatever the weather.

"While airports may be hit by fog, ice or snow, we'll be in a position to get everyone home in time for Christmas," says head of passenger sales Dermot Merrigan.

Irish Ferries are to boost Holyhead-Dublin sailings by bringing Isle of Inishmore which has the capacity to carry 6,360 passengers and 3,820 vehicles on each of the five key dates she is to support existing route ferries, the flagship Ulysses and fast-ferry Jonathan Swift.

While Isle of Inishmore is serving the Dublin route for those five days, having transferred from her usual Pembroke Dock-Rosslare sailings, her place will be covered by Oscar Wilde on those dates.

#FERRY BOOST - Irish Ferries French route cruiseferry Oscar Wilde as previously reported is to undergo its annual dry-dock maintenance next month, however, she is to operate Christmas and New Year sailings between Rosslare-Pembroke Dock, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In mid-October Afloat.ie reported that the Welsh route cruiseferry Isle of Inishmore is to transfer to Dublin-Holyhead route to boost capacity over the busy festive season.

Each of Isle of Inishmore's sailings will provide space for an additional 2,200 passengers and more than 850 cars. She will join the central corridor route's cruiseferry Ulysses and fast-ferry Jonathan Swift otherwise marketed as the Dublin Swift. For sailing schedules including separate panel for sailings served by Isle of Inishmore click this LINK.

Irish Sea rivals Stena Line are to bring back HSS fast-craft Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead sailings for 12 days over the festive and New Year period, for schedule click HERE. In addition Stena also operate year-round Dublin-Holyhead sailings using two conventional ferries marketed as Superferries.

#FERRY DRYDOCKING - Only two round trip Irish Ferries operated Rosslare-Cherbourg sailings are to remain before the year is out, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The cruiseferry Oscar Wilde is to undergo annual maintenance and routine inspection during January before opening the French service in late February 2013.

In the interim period this leaves Celtic Link Ferries which also runs to Cherbourg, as the only operator serving a direct year-round service using the ro-pax ferry Celtic Horizon.

The third operator on the Irish-French market, Brittany Ferries whose flagship Pont-Aven completed sailings for this year in early November.

#FERRY AWARD – For the sixth year in succession Irish Ferries has won Best Ferry Company at the Irish Travel Trades News travel awards ceremony held in Dublin recently.

It is also the 15th occasion in the last 18 years on which the award has been presented to Irish Ferries. The award was presented to Irish Ferries on foot of votes cast by travel agents and their staff employed in offices across Ireland, north and south.

Accepting the award at a ceremony held in Dublin recently, Irish Ferries head of passenger sales Dermot Merrigan thanked travel agents for their recognition, adding that the award "reflects the high level of service which we strive to provide for our passengers."

#FERRY NEWS - A Stena Line ferry was unable to dock in Rosslare last night after a collision with an Irish Ferries passenger craft in heavy winds.

TheJournal.ie reports that the Stena Europe ferry was attempting to dock at Rosslare Harbour after its arrival from Fishguard around 6pm when it made contact with the starboard bow of the Oscar Wilde, which was stationary in port.

RTÉ News says that neither vessel was badly damaged in the incident, but docking was postponed pending the departure of the Irish Ferries vessel, which was expected around 11.30pm last night.

More than 500 passengers and crew were on board the ferry at the time of the incident, which occurred amid gusts of up to 35 knots.

The return journey to Fishguard and this morning's Fishguard-Rosslare sailing were cancelled while an inspection of the vessel gets underway.

#FERRY NEWS – Over the busy festive season and during the early New Year periods, Irish Sea 'central corridor' route ferry operators are preparing for an influx of passengers, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Stena Line's HSS Fastcraft will return on the Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route for the festive season with the following sailing schedule: 20-23 December, 27-30 December and between 2-5 January 2013.

The route is served by the HSS Stena Explorer fastcraft with a crossing time of 1 hour 20 minutes. For further information about the service, click here.

In addition Stena Line operate sailings on the Dublin Port-Holyhead route, which is served by two conventional superferries, Stena Adventurer and Stena Nordica on the 3 hours 15 minute service. For further details click here.

Irish Ferries Dublin Port-Holyhead route is served by cruise ferry Ulysses and fast ferry Jonathan Swift, though for the festive period the cruise ferry, Isle of Inishmore will be introduced to provide an extra sailing in each direction on the following dates: 22, 23 and 27 December and 2 and 3 January 2013.

Passage times on the route for the cruise-ferries take 3 hours 15 minutes and the fast ferry crossing is 1 hour 49 minutes. For more information and sailing times click here.

Also running service on the central corridor is P&O Ferries Dublin Port-Liverpool route which is served by a trio of ro-pax ferries, European Endeavour and sisters Norbank and Norbay.

They operate to a crossing time of between 7 hours 30 minutes and 8 hours 5 minutes, which varies subject to sailing times. On this route, the service does not cater for foot passengers. Details of this service can be found on their website here.

#FERRY NEWS – In an unprecedented move Irish Ferries are to operate three vessels on the Dublin-Holyhead route in the run-up to the busy festive and New Year periods, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Irish Ferries will transfer the cruiseferry Isle of Inishmore (1997/34,031grt) onto the popular central Irish Sea route linking the capital with North Wales. This will enable additional capacity of 2,200 passengers and more than 800 vehicles at a time when rivals are cutting back winter services.

The Dublin route is already served by the 'flagship' Ulysses, one of the largest car-ferries in the world and the twin-hulled catamaran Jonathan Swift which has a crossing time of 1 hour 49 minutes. The high-speed ferry which is marketed as the 'Dublin' Swift is the only fast ferry serving on the Irish Sea to operate on a year-round basis.

Isle of Inishmore is scheduled to run the additional Dublin-Holyead sailings on the following dates: 22, 23 and 27 December 2012, and on 2 and 3 January 2013. As such the Isle of Inishmore will provide an extra sailing in each direction on the central corridor route.

Head of Passenger Sales at Irish Ferries Dermot Merrigan said "So many people in the UK have Irish roots that Christmas and New Year are some of our busiest sailings".

"In previous years, bad weather has hit airports hard, sending thousands of extra passengers our way at the last minute. We're making plans now, so that whatever happens, travellers can rely on Irish Ferries to get them home in time for Christmas."

With the Isle of Inishmore's additional sailings, Irish Ferries will have the capacity to carry 6,360 passengers and 3,820 vehicles between the UK and Ireland on each of those five key dates.

On those dates, the Oscar Wilde, which usually serves between Ireland and France, will replace the Isle of Inishmore on the Rosslare–Pembroke Dock route.

#FERRY AWARD – Irish Ferries has won the 'Best Ferry Operator' award at a ceremony held recently in Birmingham. The award was presented to the ferry operator by Group Leisure, a leading British travel trade publication.

Irish Ferries won in the category on foot of votes cast by members of the public, drawn from sports and social clubs, retirement groups and special interest societies amongst others, across the UK.

Accepting the award, Irish Ferries passenger sales manager Marie McCarthy thanked those responsible for their recognition and added, 'we pride ourselves on the quality of our fleet and the high levels of service offered by our staff and we are delighted to see this acknowledged by our fellow industry professionals'.

Irish Ferries operates two services on the Irish Sea, the Dublin-Holyhead route, served by the cruiseferry Ulysses and fast-ferry Jonathan Swift. The second route is between Rosslare-Pembroke Dock which is served by the cruiseferry Isle of Inishmore.

#FERRY NEWS – Despite this week's final Irish Ferries seasonal-only sailing on the Rosslare-Roscoff for this year, the operator provides a service to Cherbourg, where Autumn Wine / Shopping Breaks are available to the Norman city that has four wine stores and two hypermarkets.

The cost of the break is based per adult (see website's tariff table) including return car ferry with a two-star inside cabin berth on board the cruiseferry Oscar Wilde and staying in the Hotel Campanile Cherbourg, sharing a twin/double room(s) with continental breakfast. The hotel is located just outside the city at La Glacerie and where additional nights are available.

There are also Mini-Cruises on offer (starting 26 September), which too provide an opportunity to stock up on beverages, for details click HERE.

#PORTS & SHIPPING - Below is a comment from John B. McGuckian, chairman of the Irish Continental Group (ICG) on the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2012.

Mr. McGuckian said, "I am pleased to report a robust performance in the first six months of the financial year. Turnover grew, albeit moderately while EBITDA was €14.3 million in the first six months of the year, down only €1.8 million despite an increase of €4.5 million in our fuel bill in the period.

With regard to current trading, while freight remains weak due to the economic background our tourism and car business has benefited from reduced competitor capacity although fuel costs remain a headwind.

With our strong cash flow and balance sheet we propose an unchanged interim dividend of 33 cent per ICG Unit and due to the strength of our capital position propose a return to shareholders of up to €111.5 million via a tender offer buy-back, which is subject to shareholder approval.‟‟

Interim Management Report for the six months up to 30 June 2012

Results

The Board of Irish Continental Group plc (ICG) reports that, in the seasonally less profitable first half of the year, the Group recorded revenue of €127.1 million compared with €126.6 million in the same period in 2011 an increase of 0.4%.

Earnings before interest tax and depreciation (EBITDA) were €14.3 million compared with €16.1 million in the same period in 2011.

Operating profit was €5.1 million compared with €6.5 million in 2011. Group fuel costs were €28.9 million compared with €24.4 million in the same period in 2011. There was a net finance charge of €1.2 million (2011: €0.3 million) which includes a net pension expense of €0.8 million (2011: credit of €0.1 million) and net bank interest payable of €0.4 million (2011: €0.4 million).

Profit before tax was €3.9 million compared with €6.2 million in the first half of 2011. The tax charge amounted to €0.3 million (2011: €0.1 million). Basic EPS was 14.5c compared with 24.4c in the first half of 2011. Adjusted EPS (i.e. before the net pension interest expense) amounted to 17.7c (2011: 24.0c).

Dividend

The Board declares an interim dividend of 33 cent per ICG Unit payable on 5 October to shareholders on the register at 21 September 2012.

Disposal of Subsidiary

On 29 August 2012 the Group entered into an agreement for the sale, subject to regulatory approval, of its subsidiary Feederlink Shipping and Trading b.v. for a consideration of up to €29 million. All details are available from clicking this link: http://www.icg.ie/documents/2012/2012-07-30-Half-Year-Results.pdf