mysurvey wrote on 01/09/10 at 17:00:13:


If you're looking for Paul's bit then it's at about 1hour 6 minutes in to the programme - hopefully our youtube version will just concentrate on the 'ferry' section <g>

Adrian

pugwash wrote on 01/11/10 at 11:42:44:


Looks like she will head to Swansea (to the newly reopened dry dock there) at the end of the month.

New look website was launched today. http://www.fastnetline.com

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/new-ferry-service-defies-odds-to-shatter...

New ferry service defies odds to shatter passenger targets

 
By Ralph Riegel

Sunday February 14 2010

A FLEDGLING Irish ferry service has defied the recession by shattering all passenger booking targets.

The Fastnet Line -- which commences sailings from Cork to Swansea on March 1 -- has secured €500,000 worth of bookings in less than five weeks and has already exceeded its passenger targets for March and April.

The new service is also poised to kick-start the money-spinning British tourism trade into Ireland's south-west with up to 80 per cent of passengers carried expected to be British tourists.

Paul O'Brien, general manager of the West Cork Tourism Co-op, which owns the Fastnet Line, said he was "delighted" to be getting the service up and running. The inaugural sailing between Cork and Swansea is expected to see mayoral delegations from both cities make the crossing.

"We have had fantastic support from Cork city and county councils as well as from Swansea City Council and the Welsh Assembly. I think everyone realises just what an important tourism asset this link represents," he added.

Since the Swansea Cork Ferry (SCF) ceased operations four years ago, the south-west claimed it had missed out on up to €50m a year in lost tourism and spin-off revenues.

Now, Fastnet Line is confident they can establish a profitable year-round schedule catering to both hauliers and tourists with their new vessel, MV Julia, which was secured from a Finnish bank.

The ferry can accommodate 1,860 passengers, 400 cars and up to 30 articulated lorries for the 10-hour crossing between Cork and Swansea.

The Port of Cork has also confirmed that it is considering an offer to launch a ferry service to Spain -- a route which could open up a related route to France.

- Ralph Riegel

Can't wait to see the Julia leaving Ringaskiddy on the maiden voyage and wish the best of luck to all involved.

Hopefully the route will do well and allow for a renaming to Innisfallen or Munster, which will increase name recognition, can't help but think that if the Innisfallen had been berthed on Horgans Quay for three months it would have increased bookings, I know it costs money, but it was possible as all on board signage was changed to Fastnet Line, only life saving equipment/life boats  would have been left to update.

I also hope the ship returns from drydock painted in Fastnet Line logo's etc, the final part of the jigsaw, but at the same time a good advertising point as it moves from Ireland to Wales.

Finally as the ship is running on night services the capacity would be much less than 1,800 passengers, however if management go for day/night service, they will give themselves a much greater chance of increasing on board revenue (while employing more people to staff the ship) with meals, bars, shops etc, all for the future

I am told that they will be quite busy with Julia in Swansea until at least late next week , so she may arrive back in Cork just in time for entry into service.
I too am hoping she gets a repaint and Fastnet Line branding added , of course while chatting with Paul O Brien earlier this week it is the one question I forgot to ask him  But the team is very good at covering all the details so I imagine it will be looked after.
The legal expense of renaming a ship is quite substantial , and for Julia could cost in excess of €1 million , a very large figure for a company still in the set up proccess , it is something I would like the managment to come back to when the company is better established , but keep in mind that the whole region and beyond is now fimilar with her as Julia , while Innisfallen and Munster have historical importance attached to them , who is to say that over time the name Julia will not become as important , after all she is about to herald in a new era of ferry travel on the southern corridor , and it seems mark the rebirth of Cork as a center of ferry operations with some very exciting times ahead at Ringaskiddy.

One week to go, I hope that the drydocking is on schedule !! Still can't understand how the renaming would cost so much especially when you see ships going to Alang for breaking renamed for the final trip, but all thats in the past now.
Will be down in Ringaskiddy to see the Julia leave on her maiden voyage next week. Best of luck to all involved ..