#Channelislands – Channel Islands based operator, Condor Ferries which announced in August its acquisition of a new fast ferry, are now able to offer islanders to book sailings to the UK and France for journeys taking place up to 2 November 2015, following publication of new sailings schedule.

The schedule includes sailings on the new Condor 102, which will deliver a whole new on board experience, as well as more comfortable and more reliable travel for islanders sailing to and from the UK.

Islanders can now book sailings to both France and the UK right through to November next year, but it is the UK sailings which will really capture Islanders' imaginations," said Alicia Andrews, Executive Director – Commercial at Condor Ferries.

"From the end of March, all UK journeys will be on the new Condor 102 which offers smoother journeys, greater reliability and a superb on board experience including a wider choice of seating, a range of dining, and even shopping facilities for our passengers to enjoy.

"We are all very excited about the arrival of the Condor 102 and I'm sure that islanders and visitors will love sailing to the UK on our new ship."

#StenaSimilarities- Stena Line which operates services throughout Northern Europe including the Gothenburg-Frederikshavn route has seen the return to service of Stena Jutlandica, the ro-pax having undergone maintenance, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Last Saturday Stena Jutlandica (1996/29,691grt) resumed the 3 hour 15 minute Kattegat route between Sweden and Denmark. She strongly resembles Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore (1997/34,031grt) which serves on the slightly longer 4 hour St. Georges Channel Rosslare-Pembroke route.

The reason for the design similarities is that Stena Jutlandica and Isle of Inishmore were both launched from Van der Geissen-de Noord, Rotterdam. The Dutch yard no longer exists.

During the four-day absence of 'Jutlandica', there was no replacement of the ferry, though route fleetmates Stena Danica (conventional ferry) and Stena Scanrail (train-ferry) provided additional sailings.

A fourth route ferry the Stena Carisma was only withdrawn from service earlier this year. The Westamarin built HSS 900 fast craft from Norway is a smaller version of the trio of Finnyards built HSS 1500 fast-craft.

The first of the revolutionary trio, Stena Explorer is unique in that she is the only HSS member left and of any fast-craft design ferry in the extensive company's fleet.

As previously reported, Stena Explorer is to resume Christmas period sailings on selected dates in December on the Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route. In addition she is to operate some sailings in the New Year during early January.

Her former Irish Sea running mate, Stena Voyager became redundant on the North Channel's Belfast-Stranrear before a switch of Scottish terminal. Last year she was towed to Sweden where a subsidiary of the ferry company, Stena Recycling undertook dismantling the fast-craft ferry.

The third of the trio, Stena Discovery served on the longest route operated by a HSS craft, that been Harwich-Hook van Holland. She was sold to Venezuelan interests and the craft is understood to have never entered service.

#StenaSuperfastX – Furthermore to a previous report over rumours that Stena Line are to deploy the Stena Superfast X onto the Dublin-Holyhead route in early 2015, following conversion work contracted to MacGregor, Afloat.ie has contacted the ferry company to comment, writes Jehan Ashmore.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec Corporation announced that they received a contract from Stena to convert the 29,800gt ropax ferry (currently named Dieppe Seaways) to optimise it for its new route between Dublin and Holyhead.

In response Peter Arvidsson Director Network & Fleet at Stena Line said "Although it is correct that MacGregor has been appointed by Stena RoRo to return the vessel to its original configuration, where the vessel will be deployed is currently a matter for ongoing discussion. From Stena Line's perspective it is possible that the Superfast X will be used within the Stena Line network or she may be chartered to a third party operator, but no decision has yet been taken".

It is understood that work is to begin once the charter of Dieppe Seaways running for DFDS Seaways Dover-Calais service ceases this month.

MacGregor's is to return the ro-pax ferry to its original configuration as dictated by expected requirements. This will involve the delivery of ro-ro cargo access equipment, including the design and installation of bow doors, a bow ramp, a new watertight door and a stern ramp.

Should the 'Superfast X' be introduced on the important Dublin-Holyhead route, she would provide an increase in passenger and freight capacity on the central corridor link. In addition she would be a closer match to the route's ro-pax Stena Adventurer, though not her running mate, the smaller Stena Nordica.

Stena Line's other Dublin Bay service from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead has operated its fourth consecutive summer-only season which ended in early September. The route is served by the fuel thirsty and expensive to operate HSS Stena Explorer.

In efforts to stave off steep rise in fuel costs in recent years on the loss making route, Stena Line have reduced HSS sailings to a single daily round trip and increased crossings times from 99 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes.

In response to Afloat.ie on the future of Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route? Stena Line commented that the HSS is scheduled to return for the Christmas period (as previously reported) and is also scheduled for seasonal service 2015.

#StenaSuperfastX – According to Ships Monthly, Stena Line remain tight-lipped about the deployment of 29,800 tonnes ferry which is to join their fleet early in 2015.

Although an appearance on the Irish Sea service between Holyhead and Dublin has been rumoured for several months, neither Stena's head office in Gothenburg, nor Irish Sea management had made any announcement before the end of September.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, say they have been contracted to provide a complete turnkey delivery of ro-ro cargo access equipment for the vessel, including the design and installation of bow doors, a bow ramp, a new watertight door and a stern ramp, and seem to be in no doubt that Stena Superfast X will be making an Irish Sea debut from Holyhead next January.

For more on this story click HERE.

Afloat.ie adds that should Stena Superfast X be introduced on the core Dublin-Holyhead central corridor route, she would be the third sister from an original quartet (built for Greek operator Superfast Ferries) to operate for Stena Line on the Irish Sea.

The existing Irish Sea 'Superfast' pair are Stena Superfast VII and VIII which operate Belfast-Cairnryan services having been introduced three years ago this month on a North Channel route. The route from Belfast to the Scottish port was switched from Stranrear to a new £80m port at Cairnryan.

#HSSresumes – Stena Line sailings will resume on the Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route for the Christmas Season and early New Year period. The HSS fast-craft Stena Explorer returns to service having ceased summer sailings in early September.

Stena Explorer will sail over the Christmas period on the following dates, December 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and in January on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Crossing times on the Ireland-Wales route takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. A single round trip is made on each of the selected sailings dates. For further information, including the sailing schedule, visit the Stena Line website HERE.

#B+IlineReunion – A B+I Line reunion is to be held at the Clifton Court Hotel, Eden Quay, Dublin on Saturday November 15th starting at 20.00hrs, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The British and Irish Steam Packet Company otherwise commonly known as simply 'The B+I Line' was founded in 1836 and was later sold by Coast Lines Ltd to the Irish Government in 1965.

Former employees of the state-owned car ferry and freight operator, from crew members to shore-based personnel are all welcome to attend the annual reunion now in its fourth year.

The reunions over the previous years have been a great success and the organisers hope to see many more of friends and shipmates there this year. The gathering will bring no doubt many seafaring tales and antics from on and offshore too!

Among the company's most remembered marketing campaigns where... B+I Line  'Motorway' to advertise Irish Sea car ferry services and by sailing with an Irish crew hence the slogan 'B&I... The Best of Irish!

A subtle change in branding was the replacement of the company's abbreviated name from 'B+I Line' which dropped the 'plus' sign to that of the ampersand as the 'B&I Line' which appeared in more recent times of the operators existance.

The B&I Line operated a fleet of car-ferries named after provinces such as 'Leinster' while ro-ro freight-ferries and containerships were given the theme of towns and counties such as the 'Wicklow'. In addition Corkonians proudly had the the popular name of 'Innisfallen' that graced several ships serving across the Celtic Sea.

B+I Line's ro-ro freight ferry Tipperary. Photo: Jehan Ashmore Collection

B&I Line remained in state control for almost 50 years until sold in 1991 to private interests, Irish Continental Group (ICG), parent company of Irish Ferries. Despite the sale of the famous household name known on both sides of the Irish Sea, this name continued trading albeit as 'B&I Line – an Irish Ferries Company'.

The last vestiges of the venerable B&I Line name that spanned the past 160 years was eventually consigned to history when the transition took place on 1 January 1995 with that of the brand Irish Ferries.

For further information about the B&I Line reunion, contact Noel Byrne on: 086 313 0697 or email: [email protected] or Morris Ward on 087 740 9249

#TT2015sailings – A boost to sailing capacity driven by demand for TT2015 will see Isle of Man Steam Packet Company charter P&O Ferries fast-ferry Express to assist in the annual splurge of traffic heading to the prestigious annual motorcycle races.

The charter will allow the Steam Packet Company to revise its schedule and increase the number of sailings. An extra four return sailings have been added to the schedule from Larne while their Manannan, also a fast-ferry will operate an additional five Liverpool returns during the TT.

Bookings for the additional sailings open at 8.30am on Monday, November 3rd, and demand is expected to be high.

The Steam Packet Company had already increased capacity for motorcycles to travel to the Island for the annual road racing festival with the announcement earlier this year that a specially-built mezzanine deck will be in place on the Manannan during the TT.

Chartered freight ro-ro vessel MV Arrow as previously reported, will also once again be in service during the TT, freeing up the ro-pax ferry Ben-my-Chree to accommodate additional vehicles.

Steam Packet Company CEO Mark Woodward said: 'We are constantly looking at ways we can help the TT grow as an event by working. Around the clock during the event and ensuring we do everything possible to meet as much demand as we can.

'There was a marked increase in demand when bookings for the 2015 TT opened in May, with first day bookings up 41% on the previous year and many sailings for the period virtually sold out within just days.

He added 'One of the biggest areas of demand is from people wanting to bring their motorcycles, and we have responded to that by making a substantial investment in a mezzanine deck which will increase motorcycle capacity on Manannan by 30%.

#ManxWinterSchedule – The Isle of Man Steam Packet Co.'s fast-ferry Manannan will take the final sailing of the 2014 summer season on her Liverpool service on Sunday, 2 November. The sailing next month marks the start of the Manx operator's winter schedule.

The winter schedule will see ro-pax ferry Ben-my-Chree operate two Heysham services per day from Monday to Friday, with Saturdays and Sundays seeing her carry out one Heysham and one Liverpool (Birkenhead) sailing on each day, as she has done in recent years.

Ben-my-Chree will operate throughout the winter on this schedule, and she also has two return services to Dublin planned for Christmas, sailing to the Irish capital on the evenings of 20 December and 27 December, returning to Douglas overnight in both instances.

Manannan will return to service on Thursday, 26 March for the 2015 summer season.

Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: 'Following the technical difficulties suffered by Manannan this summer, the repairs were completed in late September and she has been performing well since then.

'Despite having to reschedule sailings, 2014 has been a successful year in terms of passenger numbers and having opened our 2015 bookings on 1 October, early figures are very encouraging, suggesting we are on course for another successful year for passenger numbers.'

While she is in dry dock during the winter, Manannan will undergo her regular annual maintenance and overhaul. The Ben's next statutory dry docking for her biennial overhaul is not until April 2016.

#FerryAdrift – According to the Belfast Telegraph, a Stena Line ferry, Stena Superfast VIII drifted from its berth in Belfast Lough yesterday with 18 passengers and 55 crew on board.

The ferry is one of a pair of Stena Line's Superfast twins that operate the frequent Belfast-Cairnryan route.

Passengers disembarked at the Stena Line terminal. A company spokesman said the incident was caused by stormy weather.

"Severe weather conditions in Belfast Port caused the Stena Superfast VIII to drift from her berth at VT4.Tugs from the port were deployed to help manoeuvre the ship back on to berth.

For more including footage of passengers interviewed about the incident, click HERE.

#BrittanyFerries – Bretagne, Brittany Ferries first custom-built 'cruise-ferry' made a rare call to Cork Harbour's Ringaskiddy Ferry Terminal yesterday, the arrival of the vessel from Roscoff was the first this season which started in March, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Cork-Roscoff sailings are otherwise operated by the larger Pont-Aven (2004/41,746grt), another cruiseferry ordered by the Breton based company which required a vessel to cater for 2,400 passengers in luxurious surroundings and space for 650 cars.

As previously reported, Pont-Aven this season marked her 10th season since introduction on the Ireland-France link replacing Bretagne (1989/24,543grt). Two year's after Pont-Aven's Irish debut, the Bretagne returned to the route for a once-off round trip in 2006 as Pont-Aven was chartered for spectator duties during the yachting spectacle of the Race de Rhum.

Bretagne's normal route is Portsmouth-St. Malo in which sailings are currently covered by Pont-Aven which in addition to running on the Irish link serves Roscoff-Plymouth as well to UK-Spain routes.

The reason for switching vessels is to meet requirements of winter sailings and rosters for each member of the Brittany Ferries fleet to take turns to dry-dock for annual overhauls.

This year, Bretagne celebrates her 25th anniversary since entering service in 1989. The cruiseferry with a capacity for 1,926 passengers and 580 cars is the only member of the Brittany Ferries fleet to have been built in France, when she was launched by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire. Likewise of Pont-Aven she was commissioned to serve Roscoff-Plymouth, UK-Spain services and operate a once weekly service to Cork.

Bretagne will continue to operate the shoulder season of the Irish service with a further two Roscoff-Cork round trips of the weekend-only operated route. The final sailing from France is on 31 October and from Ireland the last crossing is to take place on 1 November.

The 2015 season starts with the return of Pont-Aven with an outward bound sailing from Cork on 21 March. Sailings take 14 hours on what is the shortest crossing time between Ireland and France.