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Coastal Ferry Fresh from Survey in South-East Returns Home to Scenic Carlingford Lough

22nd March 2024
Making a repositioning passage off the Leinster coast, Frazer Mariner, following annual survey at New Ross Boatyard, is currently today bound for Carlingford Lough, where the Frazer Ferries company operates one of four routes on the island of Ireland. Above the 20 car/100 passenger ferry transits Dalkey Sound, south of Dublin Bay as part of the return leg, having also covered in for the company’s Passage East ferry service in Waterford estuary. In the background, container ships Amelie Borchard and Ranger, while in the centre is Transfennica’s con-ro carrier, Timca on short-term charter to ICG/ Irish Ferries inbound to the capital from Holyhead, north Wales.
Making a repositioning passage off the Leinster coast, Frazer Mariner, following annual survey at New Ross Boatyard, is currently today bound for Carlingford Lough, where the Frazer Ferries company operates one of four routes on the island of Ireland. Above the 20 car/100 passenger ferry transits Dalkey Sound, south of Dublin Bay as part of the return leg, having also covered in for the company’s Passage East ferry service in Waterford estuary. In the background, container ships Amelie Borchard and Ranger, while in the centre is Transfennica’s con-ro carrier, Timca on short-term charter to ICG/ Irish Ferries inbound to the capital from Holyhead, north Wales. Credit: Jehan Ashmore

A small coastal ferry, Frazer Mariner, with a bridge amidships above the vehicle deck, is this afternoon on a repositioning passage from the south-east bound for Carlingford Lough, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 20-car, 100-passenger ferry had made an en-route call to Arklow, from where it is understood it took on bunkers, and departed from the Co. Wicklow port’s North Quay this morning at around 06:30 hrs.

Operated by Frazer Ferries, Ireland’s largest domestic 'car' ferry company, based in Limerick, the 43m ferry with a beam of 13.5m received an annual survey at New Ross Boatyard. The facility features a dry dock of 70m long and 15m wide, located downriver on the Barrow of the Republic’s most inland port, accessed by the Waterford estuary.

Approximately midway along the estuary is where the Passage East, Co. Waterford-Ballyhack, Co. Wexford ferry service is served by Frazer Tintern. When the Frazer Mariner was in the south-east, this led to the ferry cover-in for the Passage East service, while the Frazer Tintern built in 1971, also went to the same dry dock.

The Frazer Mariner, built in 1983 and originally serving on German rivers, operates the Lough Foyle link between Magilligan Point, Co. Londonderry and Greencastle, Co. Donegal.

A second cross-border route is Carlingford Lough, taking 20 minutes between Greenore, Co. Louth, and Greencastle in Co. Down which is served by the their largest ferry, the 44-car, 300-passenger Frazer Aisling Gabrielle dating from 1978.  

Sailings for the Carlingford Lough season start in April and operate daily from May, while during busy times, two ferries operate the short-cut linking the Cooley Peninsula and the Mountains of Mourne.

Frazer Mariner, following its call at Arklow, had clung to the eastern seaboard of Leinster, which saw the ferry make a transit through Dalkey Sound just before noon.

This was followed by a crossing over Dublin Bay, then off Howth Peninsula with neighbouring Ireland’s Eye, and onwards between the mainland and Lambay. (The ferry completed its passage when berthing in Carlingford Harbour with a night-time arrival). 

Frazer Ferries also operates the Valentia Island ferry route, having acquired the service last year, which involves linking Reenard Point, Co. Kerry, and Knightstown on the island.

Operating this route is God Mets On III, built in 1963, which is the company's oldest car ferry.

Another fleetmate dating from the same decade is the Frazer Strangford, as part of its name indicates its origins, when launched Strangford Ferry in 1969 at the Verolme Cork Dockyard (V.C.D.). The ferry was built to serve Down County Council's service between Strangford and Portaferry on the Ards Peninsula.

Frazer Strangford continues to operate, albeit in a reserve capacity.

Published in Ferry
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!