Displaying items by tag: fastferry inspection

21st March 2024

Manx Cat Calls to Dublin Port following Recent Berthing Trials at Liverpool’s New Ferry Terminal

Observed entering Dublin Bay this morning was the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s Manannan, having departed Douglas Harbour, but the fast-ferry was not in service, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The reason for the call by the 98m catamaran craft to Dublin Port was to enable a safety inspection carried out by the Irish Marine Administration (IMA) at the Department of Transport. The examination is to asses the fitness of the fast-ferry to operate to and from Ireland, prior to resuming the seasonal route between these ports, starting in two week's time on 4 April.

A total of 18 sailings are scheduled for the 2024 timetable, as Afloat previously reported on the crossing taking 2 hours 55 minutes. Facilities of the fastferry include standard seating areas, two cinema lounges, a large bar area at the stern and a cafe, a shop in addition to reserved and premium lounges.

The 1998 built Manannan initially spent some time off the Dublin Bay Buoy before entering the port this afternoon. Likewise of previous such occasions, the fast ferry did not berth at its routine link-span at Dublin Ferryport (Terminal 1) but instead headed upriver to Alexandra Basin (East). It was at the basin's Ocean Pier linkspan where less shipping activity enabled an inspection to be carried out on the fast ferry.

The 865 passenger/200 vehicle capacity fast-ferry will also operate other Irish Sea routes leading up to and during the summer months. This involves the Manx capital’s connection to Belfast and the link to Liverpool; see a related story on the new £70m ferry terminal where a lease agreement has yet to be reached.

In the meantime, Manannan is to remain in Dublin Port until a departure of 18:00.

Published in Dublin Port

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About Conor O'Brien, Irish Circumnavigator

In 1923-25, Conor O'Brien became the first amateur skipper to circle the world south of the Great Capes. O'Brien's boat Saoirse was reputedly the first small boat (42-foot, 13 metres long) to sail around the world since Joshua Slocum completed his voyage in the 'Spray' during 1895 to 1898. It is a journey that O' Brien documented in his book Across Three Oceans. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.

Saoirse, under O'Brien's command and with three crew, was the first yacht to circumnavigate the world by way of the three great capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin; and was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour to enter many of the world's ports and harbours. He ran down his easting in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties between the years 1923 to 1925.

Up until O'Brien's circumnavigation, this route was the preserve of square-rigged grain ships taking part in the grain race from Australia to England via Cape Horn (also known as the clipper route).

At a Glance - Conor O'Brien's Circumnavigation

In June 1923, Limerick man Conor O’Brien set off on his yacht, the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the two-year voyage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that was to make him the first Irish amateur to sail around the world.

June 1923 - Saoirse’s arrival in Madeira after her maiden passage out from Dublin Bay

2nd December 1924 - Saoirse crossed the longitude of Cape Horn

June 20th 1925 - O’Brien’s return to Dun Laoghaire Harbour