Messages

WB Yeats gone to Harland and Wolff for a refit. Epsilon is in Dublin, heading for Cherbourg this afternoon.

Any sign of Calais Seaways starting up the Dover Calais service for IF?

Looks like there is a direct service to France all through the winter with WBY off the run during January.

Wasn't quite sure where to locate this historical item but this seems a reasonable spot.

1991 RTE report from the Stena Felicity running into bad weather.

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2021/0825/1242788-sealink-ferry-felicity/

Interesting points made there. But would IF have the financial firepower to buy out P and O's Dover Calais route?

ICG half yearly report [2021] notes that there will be an additional ship added to this route in the autumn as IF Pete correctly predicted. One can't help but wonder how viable this route will be? Will IF be able to obtain sufficient market share to make it profitable? Can IF really take on Eurotunnel, P and O and DFDS?

Went out on the Europe on the Monday before the lockdown in March 2020, I think it was the 9th. There were a good few chaps heading to Cheltenham. There was a rather uneasy feeling on the ship, nobody really knew about social distancing, infected surfaces etc. Did a couple of days walking on the coastal path and returned on the Wednesday. I recall sitting in the minibus that brought us from the ship to the harbour complex in Rosslare and thinking was it wise to be so close to other people? Well the world has turned and we have learned a lot since, ferries seem to manage social distancing pretty well and meanwhile Stena Europe goes on largely untroubled.

Thanks giftgrub for the link to the report. Brought back fond memories of travelling on the Normandy and having a few pints in that huge bar/ entertainment section, happy days.

Both self service and main restaurants were open. The food was good. Ship berthed on time in Roscoff at 7am. We cleared security at 8.20. Admittedly we were one of the last cars off however passports, Covid certs and the statement that one didn't have symptoms of Covid were all checked assiduously.

Sitting in the bar of the Pont Aven as it edges out to sea. Loading was quite slow as passports, tickets, covid cert were all checked. Ship is about one third full, nearly all Irish although I saw one German car and a couple of French ones. Mask wearing indoors is 100%. It just feels so good to be back to some form of normal.

Can't see this route on the Stena website. Is that the end so?

Thought I was seeing things when I read this or perhaps that it was April 1st. But it appears Stena is going to run the Estrid to Belfast at weekends until the 18th July.

Now what would be the logic of this move?

https://www.niferry.co.uk/stena-to-introduce-new-temporary-belfast-holyhead-route/

IOI commences Dover-Calais service on June 29th doing 5 round trips a day. Average cost for car plus 1 is 100 pounds or so for a one way trip. That sounds a but pricey to me but perhaps it's par for the course?

I wonder will IF offer a land bridge product where one can book straight through from Ireland to Calais with IF? I suppose crucially will it be cheaper than the current landbridge offers?

Somehow I reckon IF will have it's work cut out to make this new venture work, they are entering a crowded market, what do they have that is distinctive?

Dublin Swift is back on the IF booking engine from May 25th.

Not sure exactly where it is located but the webcam in the Dock gives a good view of the berth.

http://www.pembrokeweather.org.uk/webcam.asp