Personnel working for Irish Ferries Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route have expressed growing concerns as rumours circulate that the company is to pull out of the Wexford ferryport and abandon the Ireland-Wales service.

The ferry division of the Irish Continental Group (ICG) has remained tight-lipped on its plans and despite queries, the Irish Ferries media contact and a senior company official in Rosslare Europort, has given no response at the time of Wexford People's publication of the story.

Among the mounting concerns arises from customers that are unable to book a passage (on the 4 hour 30 minute route) beyond the 31st May this year. The timeline of the booking schedule could potentially relate to the expiry date of Irish Ferries charter of the Greek flagged ferry Blue Star 1 from the Attica Group, having entered service in 2021. The Athens based group operates brands, among them Superfast (see related ferry series story).

The 1,500 passenger Blue Star 1 with a 700 car capacity (depending on freight volumes) and 100 trucks, has faced several issues for Irish Ferries, as the ropax was detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The 29,858 gross tonnage ropax was detained as recently as of December due to failing a safety inspection carried out by the UK agency.

More on the story here concerning the future role of the Irish Sea serving Blue Star 1 which was built by the Van der Giessen de Noord shipyard in 2000.

This is the same Dutch shipyard that ICG placed an order for the cruiseferry Isle of Inishmore which entered service in 1997. The charter of Blue Star 1 led to the cruiseferry transferred to Irish Ferries new service on the Dover-Calais route in 2021.

Originally the Irish state-owned ferry company, the B+I Line opened the route in 1980 competing with rivals, Sealink/ British Rail whose current successor Stena Line operates the Rosslare-Fishguard route.

Last year, Stena Line denied rumours to close the St. Georges Channel route which has a slightly shorter passage time of 3 hours 30 minutes.  

A UK union and a Welsh Assembly Member (AM) have voiced concerns over the potential impact on workers after Stena Line re-flagged its new super ferry.

The £160m Stena Estrid went into service on the Holyhead to Dublin route last month- and is already proving a success with passengers.

But Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth says Stena has taken the decision to change the ship's registration so that on paper it sails under the flag of Cyprus.

Similar decisions have been made by other ferry firms to enable them to continue to benefit from the tax arrangements of EU states.

But the Plaid AM says he has spoken to crew members concerned by the decision.

He said: "I t's great to see investment in that beautiful new ship, but I am worried by the fact that during a delivery from China recently, she was changed from Welsh to Cypriot registration.

For more NorthWalesLive reports on this ferry development.