#FerriesDryDock – Irish Ferries Dublin-Holyhead main route vessel Ulysses which went off service yesterday for annual overhaul as previously reported has since docked in Birkenhead to join a Scottish ferry at Cammell Laird, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Ulysses's arrival on Merseyside involved her berthing at dry-dock no. 5 at Cammell Laird, the shipyard, maintenance and repairs facility.

At a neighbouring dry-dock to where Irish Ferries 1,875 passenger/ 1,342 car giant is to undergo overhaul maintenance is Caledonian Isles, a 1,000 passenger/110 car ferry that serves CalMac's Ardrossan-Brodick route.

Taking up Ulysses's 3 hours 15 minute sailings on Dublin route is Isle of Inishmore alongside sailings served by fast-ferry Jonathan Swift and ro-pax Epsilon. Asides her Welsh duties, Epsilon is to make her first sailing in 2015 from the Irish capital to France next Saturday.

As for CalMac operations, they transferred Hebrides, a 612 passenger ferry with space for almost 100 cars to take over Caledonian Isles 55 minute long sailings on the Ayrshire-Isle of Arran link. Hebrides, otherwise serves on the Uig - Tarbert/Lochmaddy routes.

Passengers travelling with the Scottish operator are advised to click this LINK, as ferries repositioning to other routes due to overhauls over the winter may affect journey times and connections.

#DoverFreight - The Port of Dover in 2014 recorded its busiest ever year for freight, with 2.42 million freight vehicles handled, writes LloydsLoadingList.

Europe's busiest port achieved a growth of 9.7% this year when compared with 2013 which was 2.5% higher than the previous record of 2.36 million set in 2007.

The performance of the port has been seen as a barometer of the UK economy, particularly through the freight vehicle volumes that arrive by road from across the UK and mainland Europe.

Port of Dover CEO Tim Waggott said: "If you want to see how the UK economy is doing, come and see what is happening at the Port of Dover. We are smashing records whilst rebuilding parts of the port in order to provide new infrastructure that will support further anticipated growth in the years to come. In effectively handling such volumes of UK trade, the port is establishing itself as a national economic success story."

For more stories visit Lloydsloadinglist.com

#UlyssesOverhaul – Ulysses, Irish Ferries main Dublin-Holyhead route cruiseferry since entering service in 2001, is understood to be heading tonight for Birkenhead on Merseyside for annual overhaul, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Taking her sailing roster is Isle of Inishmore which last month was transferred from Rosslare-Pembroke duties and entered service on the Dublin Port route to provide additional capacity over Christmas and early New Year periods.

At this quieter time of year, the winter dry-docking of Ulysses and majority of fleetmates are to take place at Cammell Laird, the shipyard and engineering repair providers. In addition to Isle of Inishmore, the Dublin-Holyhead route will be maintained by regular vessels, fast-ferry Jonathan Swift and ro-pax Epsilon.

As Stena Line decided to cancel Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead sailings over the festive period, the route last operated by HSS Stena Explorer until the main summer season ceased in September, leaves Jonathan Swift as the sole fast-ferry running on a year-round Irish Sea service.

On completion of overhauling Ulysses which will be carried out in dry-dock No. 5, Isle of Inishmore and Jonathan Swift are also scheduled to visit the dry-dock facility later this month.

#RisingFares – According to Hellenic Shipping News, as of New Year's Day, ferry passengers are being warned to expect a sharp increase in fares in 2015 after rules curbing 'dirty fuel'.

Freight and passenger rates will jump as ferry operators pass on the costs incurred by having to meet the new regulations.

Ships in the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea have been ordered by Brussels to meet strict limits on emissions, meaning that they will either have to use expensive low-sulphur fuel or install costly sulphur filters.

Emissions limit: New EU regulations on emissions could lead to a sharp increase in fares for passengers. Fuel accounts for about a third of a ferry company's overall operating costs. Industry reports say that the change in legislation could double fuel bills.

Experts have estimated the additional cost to the marine industry at about £300 million a year.

Shipping companies are making no secret of the fact that they are going to be clawing back the costs by charging their passengers higher fares.

Carsten Jensen, senior vice president at DFDS Seaways, told The Mail on Sunday that his company has already invested millions of pounds in preparing to comply with the changes. He said: 'The incoming legislation will inevitably lead to an increase in fuel costs for all shipping organisations operating in the Channel, North and Baltic Seas. 'The increase in costs will, unfortunately, need to be passed on to customers.'

P&O Ferries has estimated that its annual fuel bill will soar by about £30 million a year. The company has already announced that it is planning to recover this cost from those using its services.

Swedish shipping company Stena Line, which operates 35 vessels on 19 routes in the areas covered by the new rules, has attacked the imposition of the legislation, describing it as 'one of the largest negative political decisions taken since duty-free shopping was discontinued'.
Chief executive Carl-Johan Hagman estimated that having to use low-sulphur fuel would push up his firm's fuel bill by £41 million a year.

The UK Chamber of Shipping has warned that some ferry routes could be axed as they could cease to be economically viable. DFDS is closing its Portsmouth to Le Havre route this week.

There are additional fears that supplies of low-sulphur marine gas oil will be too low to meet the suddenly increased demand.

#Livestockferry – Over 16,500 animals have been exported to Britain in 2014, an increase of nearly 65% compared to last year according to the Irish Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

The Minister said that in recent years Irish exporters wishing to export livestock to Britain were able to avail of roll-on, roll-off ferry services from Belfast or Larne.

However, he said early in 2014 an application was received from a shipping company for approval of a roll-on, roll-off ferry to carry livestock from Rosslare and following an inspection this ferry was approved for carriage of livestock.

The first such consignment to the UK took place in February 2014, and regular consignments of livestock have been carried from Rosslare since then, the Minister said.

For further coverage, AgriLand has a report here.

#FerryRepaired - This morning the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ro-pax Ben-my-Chree resumed scheduled services following successful completion of repairs to the ferry's steering gear.

The Ben-My-Chree left Douglas on the 08.45 sailing bound to Heysham.

The Steam Packet Company brought in specialist engineers from Rolls Royce to assist with repairs to a fault which had meant, on safety grounds, the vessel was unable to sail since Saturday morning.

The technical issue led to the cancellation of the weekend's Birkenhead and Dublin services. By Saturday evening the freight-ferry Arrow had taken over Ben-my-Chree's freight role.

On Sunday, fast-ferry Manannan had been brought out of dry dock in Liverpool, where she was undergoing her annual winter overhaul, to provide passenger services.

As of this morning she too departed Douglas bound for Liverpool to where she will return to lay-up over the winter.

#CancelledSailings - A fault to steering gear of the Isle of Man Steam Packet's ro-pax ferry Ben-my-Chree has caused disruption to sailings in recent days.

According to the operator, it is expected repairs will be completed by tomorrow.

The technical disruption was due to a fault of hydraulic actuator seals. The fault had also led to the cancellation of the post-Christmas Douglas-Dublin round trip that was scheduled for last weekend.

Passengers booked on the Ben-My-Chree's usual sailings on the Douglas-Heysham route have been automatically transferred onto the temporary replacement fast-ferry Manannan, which is running to a new rescheduled sailing schedule.

Manannan had been taken out of her winter overhaul lay-over in Liverpool so to stand in for Ben-My-Chree.

The fast-ferry's roster on the island's main route was accompanied by Arrow which is covering freight services until Ben-my-Chree returns.

For further details click 'sailing timetables' and for latest information click this LINK.

#Condor102 – The latest addition to the Condor Ferries fleet, Condor 102 as previously reported arrived into the UK waters yesterday following her 10,500 nautical mile delivery voyage.

The Condor 102 sailed into Poole, Dorset, which is to be her UK base when she enters Channel Islands service in late March 2015. The ship will be the first of her kind in Northern Europe.

Watched by keen on-lookers and escorted by a tug, Condor 102 sailed past the Sandbanks peninsula and alongside Brownsea Island, before berthing at Poole Port.

The arrival concludes her long journey from Cebu in the Philippines, from where she departed on 4th December. During her delivery voyager she has sailed across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal and via the Mediterranean before travelling up the Bay of Biscay and into the English Channel.

The new ship represents £50m of investment in the Channel Islands, securing the future of high speed ferry travel to the Islands.

Condor 102 will now go through a period of customisation in Poole with a full internal fit out completed by interior refurbishment specialists Trimline. She will also complete a series of sea trials in the UK and the Channel Islands before she officially comes into service in late March, sailing from Poole to Guernsey and Jersey.

Captain Fran Collins, Executive Director – Operations at Condor Ferries commented: "We're delighted our new ship – Condor 102 – has completed her long journey here to the UK and is now safely docked at Poole Port."

She continued: "It was exciting to see her sail into the port early this morning - the crew were in great spirits. They have done a fantastic job of bringing her home on schedule - everyone at Condor is very thankful for all their hard work and commitment over the last 24 days, and we hope they get home to their families soon to enjoy the rest of the festive period and to see in the New Year."

Jim Stewart, Chief Executive Poole Harbour Commissioners welcomed the sleek new state-of-the-art 102m trimaran saying: "We are delighted to welcome this superb new ship to Poole port which will be her operational base. Poole is a highly successful south coast port set in the beautiful location of Poole Harbour and we look forward to continuing our long and successful working partnership with Condor Ferries.

"From the end of March, all journeys to the Channel Islands will be on the new Condor 102 from Poole, offering improved reliability, increased capacity, and a greater level of comfort with smoother journeys. Condor 102 will also feature three seat classes, with two upgrade areas available for passengers.

#CalMacNewbuild - Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) newest car-ferry, Loch Seaforth which as previously reported was visited by the Scottish Transport Minister, has today completed her latest series of sea trials including those on the Irish Sea, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The £41.8m newbuild 'flagship' was ordered for the route Ullapool-Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides). She has accommodation for 700 passengers and 143 cars and was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FGS).

The 8,478 tonnes newbuild departed Inch Green, Port Glagow on Thursday for sea trails and crew familiarisation. She headed down the Clyde, transited through the North Channel and continued southbound as far as the Codling Bank buoy offshore of Wicklow Head. During these sea trials she made several repeat tracks running up and down the Irish Sea.

According to Ships Monthly, Loch Seaforth was expected to make her debut during this summer, however due to financial problems at FGS, the Flensburg yard in Germany had delayed her high-season arrival.  

Loch Seaforth is now not expected to enter service on the Ullapool-Stornoway route until February 2015. When she does enter service, she will initially be only taking 'foot' passengers on twice daily round trips until a new link-span is installed in April at Ullapool. For further details of the Outer Hebrides route and also a link to a sailing timetable, click HERE.

During this interim period, those passengers taking cars and bringing freight vehicles will be re-directed onto the Stornaway-Uig, Isle of Skye route.

The port infrastructure works at Ullapool are due to be completed in early April, when the service to Stornoway starts operating a normal full service.

#ChristmasSailings – Stena Line's decision to cancel Christmas sailings on Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire route which was to have started today, leaves those booked to make alternative sailings on Holyhead-Dublin Port services, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The absence of the High Speed Sea-service (HSS) Stena Explorer fast-ferry on the Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire route and over the early New Year, will see added traffic absorbed on Stena's Holyhead-Dublin service and that of rivals Irish Ferries also operating to the capital.

In addition P&O Ferries operate a trio of ships on the Liverpool-Dublin route, this central corridor route takes eight hours. In comparison to the link from Merseyside, crossing times on Holyhead services range from 3 hours 15 minutes if taken by conventional ferry or 1 hour 50 minutes on Irish Ferries fast-ferry Jonathan Swift.

Stena's route to Dublin Port is operated by a two-ship service on the Wales-Ireland service, while from today Irish Ferries have boosted capacity to cope with Christmas demand with the entry of Isle of Inishmore which joins the routes other three ferries.

Prior to making her appearance in Holyhead, Isle of Inishmore completed her normal Pembroke-Dock-Rosslare duties yesterday afternoon. This was followed by departing the Wexford port with an overnight repositioning passage to Holyhead, from where she took up this morning's sailing from Anglesey to the Irish capital.

Standing in for Isle of Inishmore on the Pembrokeshire route is Oscar Wilde, which made the last Rosslare-Cherbourg round trip sailings for 2014 followed by last night's first sailing to south Wales.

The French connection though remains as Irish Ferries operates a year-round Dublin-Cherbourg service running at weekends. Stena Line also provide an all-year Rosslare-Cherbourg link.

For details on central corridor seasonal sailing schedules, visit the following ferry websites: Stena Line, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries, noting this operator does not take 'foot' passengers.