Displaying items by tag: Winter Schedule

5th October 2016

Frequency On Shannon Shifts to Winter Schedule

The pair of half-sister car ferries that operate Ireland's longest river crossing

#Schedule -Ireland’s longest river crossing by car ferry, operated by Shannon Ferries, have introduced a winter schedule timetable, writes Jehan Ashmore.

A winter sailing frequency on their 20 minute crossing of the estuary along the Wild Atlantic Way, between counties Clare and Kerry was introduced last weekend.

According to the operator, there will be single ferry operating with sailings from Killimer to Tarbert every hour on the hour from 7am to 7pm.

For crossings in the opposite direction, sailings from Tarbert to Killimer are every hour on the half hour from 7.30am to 7.30pm. Whereas, Sunday sailings commence two hours later.

The winter sailing continuous to 31st March, 2017, from thereon a revised schedule begins for April and May in advance of high-season traffic over the summer months.

Carrying a mix of vehicle types, including coaches and HGV’s, are a pair of UK built double-ended ro-ro half-sisters ferries. Shannon Dolphin (52 cars/350 pass) and the slightly larger Shannon Breeze, albeit in terms of a 60 vehicle capacity.

The ferries were purpose built by Appledore Shipbuilders, north Devon, during 1995 and 2000 respectively.

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Isle of Man Winter Sailing Schedule Includes Birkenhead Service

#ManxWinterSchedule – Isle of Man Steam Packet's winter season sailing schedule started earlier this month.

The winter schedule sees ro-pax Ben-my-Chree operate two Heysham services daily from Monday to Friday, with Saturdays and Sundays involving 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 December 20th and December 27th, returning to Douglas overnight in both instances.

The fast-craft ferry Manannan will return to service on Thursday, March 26th 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 October 1st, 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.

As for the Ben-My-Chree, her next statutory dry-docking for her biennial overhaul is not due until April 2016.

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Isle of Man Steam Packet Fast Ferry Sailings Approach Winter Schedule

#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.

'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.

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Offshore wind

ESB know the importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and delivering net zero. Ireland has a unique capability given its prime location to take advantage of the potential of offshore wind. ESB are working hard to develop offshore wind projects for the benefit of everyone across society in Ireland and the UK. This includes ongoing engagement with marine users and local communities so ESB can deliver these significant projects.

Offshore wind will play a major role globally in our fight against climate change. It will help to replace energy generated by burning fossil fuels with that from a clean, safe and secure renewable energy source. Ireland’s geographic location on the exposed edge of the Atlantic presents us with a significant opportunity to generate electricity from wind – both offshore and onshore.

Power from onshore wind farms currently provide over one-third of Ireland’s electricity needs. But, whilst its marine area is many times the size of its landmass, Ireland’s offshore wind potential is only starting to be realised. ESB have a coastline stretching over 3,000km but only one operational offshore wind farm – Arklow Bank, with a capacity of 25 MW. In contrast, Belgium’s coastline is only 63km long, but it has already developed more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind. In Great Britain, with a coastline four times the length of ours, offshore wind generation now equates to over 440 Arklow Banks, with an installed capacity of 11,0000 MW as of late 2021.

The Irish Government's target to install 5,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in our maritime area by 2030 is set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021. It also has the objective to source 80% of Ireland’s electricity needs from renewables by the same year. In line with this, ESB is applying its professional and proven engineering expertise to the challenges set within the Climate Action Plan.

ESB are committed to playing a strong role in developing Ireland’s offshore wind potential for the benefit of the people of Ireland. This will be done in consultation with marine users and local communities, and with due care for the marine environment.