Messages

I Wonder a name  Saint  Patrick  the  Wicklow. Be a good name for a new ship.

As regarding the chartered Stena Horizon.  Can anyone tell me who is crewing her is it a Italian crew or a mix of Stena line crew?  As she is flying a Italian flag.

Least she has a future in New Zeeland.  As it was unlikely she would be any use for the Irish sea routes if she was bought back  as she would had been too  small for the Irish ferries now .  The only difference is she will be reflagged under New Zeeland.   I travelled on her under Irish ferries and I even use her when she was on charter to P&O Portsmouth.

Surley they wouldn,t dispose a ferry that was built 15 years ago.  She should have another flew years life in her.

As we are in the 3rd mouth of 2014.  We hear and read about the changes that is going to happen in 2015 as regarding Stena line & Irish ferries.  At this moment lets get over 2014 first.  Because anything could happen in the next 10 mouths.  As Stena line could be looking for other tonage in the mean time, we never know.  Right now to my opinon if the Horizon or Epsilon was ever use on the southern corridor they wouldn,t be ideal for the 2 routes as they are only stern loaders.  So it would take longer to load or discharge cargo.  And as Pembroke and Rosslare have double deck ramps too.  Irish ferries wants to make use of them.  I would like to asked someone on this site what are the loading like on the Pembroke to Rosslare, does that route carry very good loadings. 

You never know .  As regarding the Stena Nordica transfering to the Southern corridor.  To make her more suitable for the route .  They could give her a facelift.  I think I remember when Stena redeployed the Stena Europe on the Fishguard to Rosslare some 12 years ago  Not many were too happy about her being used on the route. But  after giving her a major refit.  In the end it pay off.  As she performed well during the pass years. As long as the ferry is  carrying good loadings then Stena will reconsider whats best for the route.  It depends how many are using the route.  Thats my view about  this.

As regarding the Stena Europe when she is eventually replaced.  To my opinon 3 ferries that won,t be ideal for the route  1 The stena Nautica as she will be too small and too slow.  The other 2 the Stena,s Vison & Spirit as they will be far too big.  But what about the Stena Julandica or the Nordica.  With modiforcations to the 2 they are the ones that will be ideal  for the Fishguard to Rosslare  As Stena are good in working with shipyards regarding conversion work.  The other point is is Stena Line comitted in continuing to operate out of Fishguard.  Thats the other thing Stena needs to asked and for Stena to asked around to clients what service do they want from Stena.

For the Fishguard to Rosslare.  Something like the Barfluer will be a ideal ship.

As Irish ferries e mploys eastern  europeans on their routes.  Are there any staff who are Irish.  And regarding the flag of convinces.  I know the Bahamas, Cypress,  are but what about Bemunda , Isle of Man.

I wanted to travel on the B&I ships some years ago.  But after the Connacht was sold to Brittanyferries.  I did get the chance to travel on the Connacht, After she was renamed the Duchess Anne.  I even actully traveled on her 3 times.  But the 2nd time was with a ferry publications group in 1991.  Which include bridge & engine room visit.  But for a long time I wanted to travel on the Leinster. To compear the 2.  But some 3 years  later.  When I went over to Ireland on my motorbike via France.  I travel on the Duchess Anne from St Malo to Cork.  But when I returned to the UK.  I traveled back on B&I Line the Leinster ( by then she was renamed the Isle of Inishmore)  But when some 2 years later,  I traveled  on the Isle of Inishmore again. But this time she was under the Irish ferries banner.  But after showing some staff of my photos I took of the Duchess Anne back in 1991.  I managed to get a view of the Inishmore Bridge.  But after having a chat with the bridge crew and even one or two guys came from the engine room came up as they wanted to see the photos of the Duchess Anne.  But even so the interer there was a differance between the 2 ships.  But even so those 2 ferries are one of my favorite ferries even now.

Was she chartered by P&O Portsmouth.  When she finnish the Portsmouth to Cherbourg route,  She was then sub chartered to Stena line, and the to interislander.