Irish Ferries News

Dublin Swift swings off Ferry Terminal (no. 1) at Dublin when bound for Holyhead; such high-speed craft 'seasonal’ services resume next month in tandem with Irish Ferries year-round running cruise-ferries.

Dublin Swift’s Countdown to Dublin-Holyhead High-Speed Craft (HSC) Seasonal Operated Service

17th April 2024 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries high-speed craft (HSC) Dublin Swift has been tracked by Afloat to Cardiff Docks, south Wales, where the vessel has been wintering, but in a month’s time is to resume seasonal service, writes Jehan Ashmore. According to the Irish…

Transfennica’s Timca on charter for Irish Ferries, above departing Dublin (serving routes to Wales and France), is a freight-only container/ro-ro (con-ro) carrier; however, its capability to convey 640 TEU containers (see cell guides, left/aft of the superstructure) is made redundant, given the ferry operator does not carry this cargo mode. An ICG container division, EUCON, however, uses lo-lo vessels, which has increased with a sixth such ship, MV Ranger, which started service after departing Rotterdam (Waalhaven) on Wednesday and which arrived in Dublin Bay this morning.

Transfennica’s Timca Trades on Yet Awaits Norbay’s Rosslare Route Return

22nd March 2024 Irish Ferries

Transfennica's Timca, on short-term freight charter for ICG's Irish Ferries Dublin-Wales/France routes, is due to end when Norbay returns to Rosslare this weekend, releasing Oscar Wilde, if all goes according to plan, writes Jehan Ashmore. Since late February, the chartering…

ICG has chartered Transfennica’s Timca, a container/ro-ro (con-ro) carrier on a temporary basis to trade for Irish Ferries two Dublin-based routes to Holyhead and Cherbourg, France. Above the con-ro passes the same number of cooling towers in mainland Europe, from where the ice-strengthened 205m vessel had operated on a route linking Finland, Belgium, and also the UK. The freighter carried out berthing trails at Holyhead and previously at Cherbourg, when on a repositioning voyage to Dublin. Some of Timca’s earliest sailings from Holyhead, Afloat, observed on the Dublin Bay horizon, whereas this weekend is operating a Cherbourg round trip in tandem with W.B. Yeats, which for the first time on the Ireland-France routes sees a two-ship service resume when Oscar Wilde rejoins later this month, ending the charter of Timca.

ICG Charters Transfennica Con-Ro for Irish Ferries Dublin-Wales/France Routes As Oscar Wilde Covers Norbay's Dry-Docking

9th March 2024 Irish Ferries

Irish Continental Group (ICG), it is understood, has a ‘short-term’ freight charter of Transfennica’s container/ro-ro (con-ro) Timca, operating Irish Ferries two Dublin-based routes to Holyhead and Cherbourg, writes Jehan Ashmore. As previously reported, the freight-only Timca (details below) has replaced…

Oscar Wilde, on charter with Irish Ferries, started sailing last May, ‘initially’ on the Rosslare-Pembroke route. AFLOAT highlights that the cruise ferry, until last week, had to leave its Dublin-Holyhead/Cherbourg routes. This was due to the southern corridor route’s ropax ‘economy’ ferry, Norbay, on charter too, went for dry-docking, forcing a reintroduction of Oscar Wilde. It is speculated, ICG has a 'short-term’ charter of Timca, albeit a freight-only ferry, to replace Oscar Wilde and its double Dublin roles, given that sailings run to 18 March, supporting Wales serving Ulysses and to France with W.B. Yeats. On the next day, Oscar Wilde will be back in Dublin, as according to the sailing schedule, an ‘economy’ ferry, understood to be Norbay, returns to Rosslare. This would see Oscar Wilde resume Ireland/France routes in advance of summer, whereas fast ferry, Dublin Swift is to link Holyhead earlier in May.

Irish Ferries Owner Irish Continental Group Reports Higher Profits for 2023

7th March 2024 Irish Ferries

The parent company of Irish Ferries, the Irish Continental Group, has today reported higher profits for 2023, but this was set back as its revenues dipped against background challenges of high inflation coupled with a slowdown in global trade. According…

Oscar Wilde, is to start next week operating on Irish Ferries Dublin-Cherbourg route, less than a year to when the chartered former Baltic Sea cruise ferry entered the Rosslare-Pembroke route ‘initially’ to replace the chartered Blue Star 1 for the busy summer period as announced then by the Dublin based company. Oscar Wilde’s route relocation takes place in advance of summer, and augments the service provided by the existing year-round serving W.B. Yeats which has been on the Ireland-France connection for more than five years.

Oscar Wilde Soon to Debut on Ireland-France Route of Dublin-Cherbourg

9th February 2024 Irish Ferries

Oscar Wilde, Irish Ferries chartered-in cruiseferry, is to enter the Dublin-Cherbourg route joining W.B. Yeats, with the debut of the second ship to boost capacity in the year the French capital hosts the Olympic Games, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Paris…

Ulysses, Irish Ferries cruiseferry of the Dublin-Holyhead route, is having an annual overhaul at A&P Tyne, which is the largest commercial dry-dock on the England’s east coast. While away from Irish Sea duties, W.B. Yeats is operating the roster of the cruiseferry. Also above at the North Sea marine engineering facility is Prysmian's Cable Enterprise alongside when berthed on the Tyne.

Ulysses Undergoes Overhaul for the First time At UK East Coast Dry-Dock, A&P Tyne

19th January 2024 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries main vessel on the Dublin-Holyhead route, Ulysses is receiving an annual overhaul but for the first time at A&P Tyne on the North Sea, which has the largest dry-dock on the east coast of England, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

After a routine annual winter overhaul dry-docking at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, W.B. Yeats completed a Dublin-Cherbourg round trip today, with an arrival at the Irish port during strong south-easterly gale force winds, noting this afternoon’s return sailing to France has been cancelled, the company citing adverse weather conditions, however the next sailing is scheduled for Friday. During the dry-docking, ropax pair, Epsilon along with Norbay, operated the Ireland-France route. Epsilon has been replaced directly by its successor, the chartered Norbay of P&O Ferries, which takes over its sailing schedule on the French route and having already done so on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

W.B.Yeats Returns to Irish Ferries Service On France Route Albeit Today's Overnight Sailing Is Cancelled Due to Adverse Weather

7th December 2023 Irish Ferries

W.B. Yeats which was delayed in dry-dock has finally re-entered Irish Ferries Dublin-Cherbourg route as the cruise-ferry completed the Ireland-France round trip today, however this afternoon's sailing to the continent is cancelled due to bad weather, writes Jehan Ashmore. It was…

Volume of cars at Irish Ferries, owned by ICG, rose by 12.2% to 588,700 in the year to 18 November. Above the chartered Oscar Wilde serves the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route, as part of the company’s UK land-bridge routes and Dublin-Cherbourg, directly linking Ireland to mainland Europe.

Irish Ferries Owner, Irish Continental Group Report Lower Revenues So far this Year

23rd November 2023 Irish Ferries

The operator Irish Ferries which is owned by parent company, Irish Continental Group (ICG) has issued a trading statement today which reported of a dip in revenues but increased volumes of passengers and freight levels. The Dublin based ferry, shipping…

Chartered to ICG, sees Epsilon which is to make a final sailing for Irish Ferries with today’s overnight Cherbourg-Dublin sailing, while in the reverse direction, P&O Ferries chartered in Norbay, debuts on the Ireland-France connection. Above Epsilon early in its career at the port in Normandy with in the background, the amidships of Brittany Ferries cruise-ferry, Barfleur, prior to departing for Poole, Dorset, England.

Ropaxs’ Chartered to Irish Ferries to See Epsilon Exit Service While Norbay Debuts on Ireland-France Route

10th November 2023 Irish Ferries

ICG's charter of Epsilon for Irish Ferries which for almost a decade operated Dublin-Holyhead and between the Irish capital and Cherbourg, France, is to complete its final sailing tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 165 freight trailer unit / 500 passenger capacity…

ICG which has chartered Norbay from P&O Ferries, for a minimum of six months, is at time of writing making its maiden sailing for Irish Ferries, with a Dublin-Holyhead crossing which is to be completed at 1800hrs this evening. The above scene shows the ropax, when berthed at its former P&O terminal, which is now used by Seatruck/CLdN, while P&O Ferries operate downriver, beyond the Irish Ferries (Terminal 1) from where Norbay departed this afternoon with freight and passengers.

ICG's Chartered-In Ropax from P&O, Sees Norbay Make Maiden Crossing for Irish Ferries this Afternoon

7th November 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Continental Group (ICG)’s new time-chartered ropax from P&O Ferries is today making its first sailing for Irish Ferries on the Dublin-Holyhead route, in the context of providing a full service except for ‘foot’ passengers, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Norbay…

Alan Kelly, the ESB Networks senior manager leading the ESB Networks crews in France, pictured at Dublin Port before setting sail for Cherbourg

ESB Crews Sail By Ferry to France to Help With Storm Ciarán Aftermath

5th November 2023 Ferry

Storm Ciarán’s impact on France has been so severe that ESB Networks crews from Ireland have set sail for the French north-west coast to offer assistance. High winds associated with the storm resulted in over a million homes losing electricity…

Operator Irish Ferries was among the award-winners at the UK Group Leisure & Travel Awards 2023

Irish Ferries Voted ‘Best Ferry or Fixed Link Operator’ at UK Leisure & Travel Awards

7th October 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries which has an eight-strong fleet, connecting Ireland, UK and France, has been voted as the ‘Best Ferry or Fixed Link Operator’ at the UK Group Leisure & Travel Awards 2023, writes Jehan Ashmore. This is the 5th successive…

In advance of the summer season, ICG chartered the cruise ferry Oscar Wilde (for an initial 20 month period with further extension options) to operate on the Rosslare-Pembroke route. The Ireland-Wales competes with Stena Line which serves between the Wexford ferryport and Fishguard.

Irish Ferries Owner, Irish Continental Group Reports Flat Half-Year Revenues

1st September 2023 Irish Ferries

Dublin based Irish Ferries, owned by Irish Continental Group (ICG) has reported lower pre-tax profits and flat revenues for the six months of this year reports RTE News. The results from the half-year report to the end of June, is…

As Afloat reported yesterday, the Oscar Wilde has replaced the chartered Blue Star 1 which previously serviced the Rosslare-Pembroke route until yesterday evening. The former Baltic Sea shuttle ferry began its first full day of sailings today on the Ireland-Wales route with the cruiseferry in Irish Ferries livery along with passenger facilities rebranded in line with the rest of the fleet. Oscar Wilde is seen above at Rosslare in advance of last night’s sailing from Wexford to Pembrokeshire.

Irish Ferries Launches Oscar Wilde as Fastest Cruise Ferry on the Irish Sea

31st May 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries celebrated the first day of sailings today of the cruiseferry Oscar Wilde, which is the largest and fastest on the Irish Sea and aims to live up to the famous Oscar Wilde quote “I have the simplest of tastes.…

Oscar Wilde with its new livery of Irish Ferries made its first call to Dublin Port having undergone rebranding at Harland & Wolff, Belfast from where the newcomer sailed into the capital for berthing trials yesterday. On arrival, the tugs Beaufort and Shackleton made a traditional maritime welcome with a water cannon salute across the ferry’s bow. As of today, Oscar Wilde is berthed in Rosslare in preparation for replacing this week the Blue Star 1 on the route to Pembroke in south Wales.

Oscar Wilde Zig-Zags Down the Irish Sea With Debut Scheduled in Advance of June Bank Holiday

30th May 2023 Irish Ferries

Oscar Wilde, Irish Ferries newest addition, freshly repainted in the company’s livery, made its maiden call to Dublin Port yesterday while en route from Belfast to other Irish Sea ports, writes Jehan Ashmore. The former shuttle ferry the Star that…

The former Star as above in Baltic Sea, ICG have chartered from the Tallink Grupp in Estonia for Irish Ferries and since renamed Oscar Wilde, is currently making a delivery voyage from Tallinn to Ireland, where the cruiseferry ‘initially’ is to operate the Rosslare-Pembroke route from June. The 36,249 gross tonnage ferry transited the Strait of Dover yesterday and as of today departed Cherbourg after berthing trials which are also to take place in Rosslare when a maiden port of call to Ireland is set for tomorrow morning, 14 May.

Irish Ferries Chartered Cruiseferry Oscar Wilde Underway on Voyage from Estonia to Ireland

13th May 2023 Irish Ferries

Irish Continental Group (ICG) newly chartered cruiseferry, the Star recently renamed Oscar Wilde for Irish Ferries service, transited the Strait of Dover last night on its delivery voyage from Estonia to Ireland, writes Jehan Ashmore. The cruiseferry which had operated…