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Displaying items by tag: Black Sea Sochi

#FerryBreakers – In 2011, Afloat.ie reported on a trio of Irish Sea Larne-Fleetwood (since closed) ro-ro freight vessels which Stena Line sold to Russian interests in the Black Sea and understood for use in the recently held Winter Olympics in Sochi, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The sisters Stena Seafarer, Stena Leader and Stena Pioneer, the latter which as Bison between 1989-1993 served B&I Line on joint service with P&O's freight division, Pandoro between Dublin-Liverpool.

At the time of the vessels sale, they departed Belfast Lough in mid-June. They were understood to be bound for to Sevastopol in the Ukraine and placed under the Moldovan flag and with a port of registry in Giurgiulesti.

For much more on this story, Ships Monthly reports of the German-built sisters which spent more than 30 years on Irish Sea freight services originally for P&O before their most recent spells with Russian operator Antship. They fittingly ended their days together after arriving at Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping during February.

 

Published in Ferry

Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove, Tokyo Olympic 49er Sailors 

Dublin dinghy sailors Robert Dickson of Howth Yacht Club and Sean Waddilove of Skerries Sailing Club achieved their goal of representing Ireland in the 49er class, almost six years to the day after first setting foot in a 49er skiff at their home club of Howth Yacht Club in County Dublin in 2015.

The voyage was a magnificent one becoming U23 World champions in 2018 before out sailing rivals double Olympian Ryan Seaton and Seafra Guilfoyle in some style for selection in Lanzarote in March 2021 to win the last European Olympic place for Tokyo.

Follow their progress here.