#CancelledHSSsailings- The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company have responded to Stena Line's announcement that they will not operate the HSS Holyhead-Dublin service as previously reported on Afloat.ie over Christmas 2014 and New Year periods.

It has been the practice of the ferry company to run a limited sailing service on this route at Christmas. Stena has cited 'commercial and operational reasons' for its decision not to operate the service on this occasion.

DLHC is actively engaged in discussions with Stena Line in respect of a seasonal service from 2015. In addition to these discussions, the port company is also heavily focused on building the volume of cruise calls for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and beyond.

As a core member of the Dun Laoghaire Cruise Stakeholder Group, the Harbour Company has been actively and successfully marketing the cruise potential of the historic 200 year old leisure harbour. It is estimated that Dun Laoghaire will attract in the region of 100,000 cruise passengers and crew next year, with similar numbers already expected for 2016 and 2017.

A planning application under the Strategic Infrastructure Development Act for a new cruise berth for 'next generation' cruise ship is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks to An Bord Pleanala.

According to Gerry Dunne, CEO of DLHC: "While it is regrettable that the HSS won't be sailing out of Dun Laoghaire this Christmas, we look forward to a continued relationship with Stena in 2015 and beyond.

We also look forward to fully exploiting the potential of the harbour as a world-class destination for cruise calls. These developments will have very positive implications for the town of Dun Laoghaire, and the wider hinterland."