#STENA 50 YEARS- This year marks the 50th anniversary of Stena Line, the household name of the Swedish owned ferry giant. The company took the trading name from founder Sten A. Ollsen who began originally in 1939 with a small chartered cargoship named Dan, after his son, who currently holds several chairman positions throughout the Stena sphere of operations, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The first foray into a passenger (only) ferry was in 1962 with chartered tonnage on a route from Stenpiren in Gothenburg to Skagen in Denmark. The vessel the MS Østersøen was packed with happy, Christmas-shopping Gothenburgers looking for alcohol, tobacco and food at bargain prices! It seemed as if a new phenomenon had started in Gothenburg.

Only two years later the company had announced its first custom-built car ferry, Stena Germanica, which was to serve on the night-service from Gothenburg to Kiel. As the company continued to become successful, more routes were developed and new or chartered tonnage was added.

Among the new vessels ordered during the 1970's was Stena Scandinavia, one of a quartet of well proportioned and handsome looking car-ferries built for Stena's Scandinavian service. She served the Swedish-German route for five years until sold in 1978 to Irish Continental Line (ICL) to become Saint Killian (scroll down) on Irish-French routes.

In 1981/2 she was lengthened and renamed Saint Killian II, a name she retained also with her Irish Ferries career. She was sold in 1998 to Greeks interests, then resold with the vessel chartered to Algérie Ferries. There were also periods of lay-up until she was scrapped in 2007 in Alang, India.

Over the past four decades the Stena Line group has expanded considerably and is one of the world's largest ferry operators with an extensive ferry (and freight) network of 19 routes in Scandinavia and radiating from ports in the UK. In total the routes connect eight countries, served by 35 vessels, and overall the company employ 5,700 people.

Stena Line are running a 50 years with memories! campaign, where prizes are being given away including a year's free travel with the operator, and 5 iPhones, for details click HERE.

#LOGISTIC AWARDS – Stena Line Freight collected the Irish Sea Shipping Line of the Year Award at the Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards 2012.

The award was presented to Stena Line's Irish Sea freight commercial manager Frank Nieuwenhuys, at a ceremony held this week at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast.

Among the winners was Carna Transport based in Monaghan, which won in the best European Haulier category while NMC Haulage of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone picked up Haulier of the Year.

#'BIRD' FERRY- The famous Mersey ferry is to run 'Liverbird' Bird Watching & Wildlife Cruise this coming Saturday 13th October.

Mersey Ferries have teamed up once again this year with the RSPB and National Museums Liverpool to get you closer to nature. The RSPB will be on hand during the cruise to provide a running commentary, plus experts will be available to answer any of your questions as we journey on the River Mersey and out into the bay.

The cruise is for all, be it the family, the experienced bird watcher or novice. As this is the final cruise of the season there will be expertise from those who have knowledge of wildlife in wetland areas, as well as to helping children on board make bird feeders!

With previous sightings including long-tailed skuas, peregrine falcons, osprey and Atlantic grey seals, there should be all sorts of wildlife-so get prepared for some spotting!

The cruise departs Seacombe at 11.00am, Pier Head at 11.10am and Woodside 11.20am and lasts approximately 3 hours. Ticket prices are £14.00 for adults and £7.00 for children (3-15yrs) and advance booking is necessary online or by clicking HERE or to Tel: 0151 330 1444

#FERRY NEWS- Brittany Ferries are to resume sailings today, following the end of an industrial dispute as previously reported on Afloat.ie, which was carried out by employees that led to services halted between UK, France, Ireland and Spain.

The Breton ferry company was forced to suspend services for 10 days after strikes erupted and employees fought to disrupt the operator which sought cuts in costs by reducing salaries and the frequency of crossings.

The Irish service, operated by the Pont-Aven on the weekend only round-trip route from Roscoff to Cork, is to depart the French port this Friday 5th October, at 21.15hrs. The return sailing departs Cork (Ringaskiddy) on Saturday 6th October at 16.00hrs.

All English Channel routes are to resume today though the company had to cancel tomorrow's 11.00hrs sailing from Portsmouth to Santander as the ship is out of position.

#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 - Industrial action by French crews with Brittany Ferries is still disrupting the company's ferry services from Cork to Roscoff.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, a series of wildcat strikes by staff protesting against changes to their working terms and conditions began last Friday 21 September.

The action led to the cancellation of sailings on the weekend-only round-trip Cork route until further notice.

Passengers intending to travel from Cork have been advised to seek passage instead on Celtic Ferries' Rosslare-to-Cherbourg route or Irish Ferries' Rosslare services to Cherbourg.

#SAILINGS CANCELLED – Due to a series of wildcat strikes yesterday by French employees of Brittany Ferries, the company has cancelled sailings on the Cork-Roscoff route until further notice and on its other routes to the UK and Spain.

The cancellation of sailings on the weekend only (round-trip) operated Irish route, led to passengers having to take alternative travel arrangements. Instead of departing Roscoff last night, passengers were given passage on board last night's departure from Cherbourg using the Celtic Link Ferries service to Rosslare, which is scheduled to arrive later today at lunchtime.

It has been suggested by Brittany Ferries, that customers who had booked on today's (cancelled) 16.00hrs sailing from Cork to Roscoff, should instead depart Rosslare with Celtic Link Ferries or Irish Ferries which also operates to Cherbourg.

For information and sailing updates from Brittany Ferries click HERE.

#FERRY NEWS – Celtic Link Ferries are to participant in Ireland's The Gathering 2013, a year-long initiative to celebrate all things Irish, with a unique opportunity to take a car from France on their Cherbourg-Rosslare service for free, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The special offer is limited to the sailing scheduled to depart Cherbourg on 15th March, with an arrival the next day to Rosslare Europort, in advance of  the nation's annual celebrations on St. Patrick's Day.

Those travelling on this sailing will have the chance to sample the Celtic Horizon, the newest and fastest ship sailing on this route between Normandy and Wexford.

Among the facilities on board the 27,522 tonnes vessel is the forward facing restaurant, the Cherbourg Café Lounge and adjoining children's playroom, cinema and Wi-Fi. Accommodation is provided in 110 cabins and vehicle decks for 200 cars and up to 120 freight trucks.

For further details of The Gathering voyage and other offers visit: www.celticlinkferries.com

#FERRY MUSIC – The famous 'ferry cross the Mersey' service operated by Mersey Ferries, are to run River Shuffle Cruises in honour of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles last performance aboard the Royal Iris.

The special two-hour cruises are part of the Riverboat Shuffle Music Festival (22-30 September) which celebrates Liverpools' most music and culture.

For a list of The Riverboat Shuffle Cruises (and evening performances) see the ferry website. All of the cruises cost £10 and on board there will be a full bar service available as they depart from both sides of the Mersey. For a list of the cruises and sailing times, click HERE.

#NEW MARINA – Roscoff ferryport built four decades ago and initially used to export produce of a Breton farmer's co-operative to UK markets, through B.A.I then a fledging ferry concern, otherwise known today as Brittany Ferries, is now accompanied by a new 625-berth marina, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The marina at the Port de plaisance Roscoff-Bloscon, is a development of the Chambre de Commerce etd 'Industrie de Morlaix (CCI) and has been operational since June, however the marina's service buildings will not be completed until summer 2013.

Roscoff's position on the French north-west coastline promises to be a major draw to sailors wishing to stop off for a few days on cruising grounds along the French coast, Channel Islands or en-route to somewhere more distant. The port is also an ideal place for sailors as there are numerous islands as well as hidden coves and pretty harbours to discover.

Another advantage is the ferryport's links not just to Plymouth but also to Irish ports, with Irish Ferries running from Rosslare(May-September) and Brittany Ferries as previously reported on Afloat.ie which operates on a longer seasonal service from Cork, from March to November, with this year's final sailing on Saturday 3rd.

Boat-owners across the English Channel will be tempted to moor at the marina on a morepermanent basis,as it is claimed that berthing fees compare very favourably with those available in the UK. For further details of the new marina visit: www.morlaix.cci.fr