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More than likely a technical problem if you ask me, especially if she was being assisted by tugs.

I'm not sure if I'm putting this in the right place?

Anyway, I'm not on Facebook but was thinking of joining and was wondering if anyone has suggestions for good shipping groups on there? A friend suggested some of the Facebook groups are not that good and are constantly plagued with people arguing/disagreeing and posting of stuff/info that's irrelevant or even not factual. Can anyone enlighten me before I make any decisions on this?

I heard from a friend in Belfast harbour that Oscar Wilde is leaving today.

Speculation based on nothing factual I'd suggest. Like I said, Pride of Kent and Pride of Canterbury would NOT fit in Larne! According to their website the max length of vessel that can be handled on any of the berths in Larne is 170m and the Darwins are 180m.

Anyone know when Horizon is finishing at Holyhead.  I would really like a run on her.  Is she like a basic Stena Lagan?

Also anyone know if any work was done on the Superfast during her refit?

Also is the Adventurer getting any extra work on her she seems away fora while?

Cheers.

Martha

I'm not sure but I think someone said Stena Horizon is on the Holyhead route until about 8th March at least. She is pretty basic though not standard Visentini any more as Stena have spent some money on her, but this is limited to new seats and a bit of carpet I believe.  Stena Lagan and Stena Mersey are the same ship but they most certainly are not basic any more since they have been extensively refurbished.

If you refer to Stena Superfast X, she didn't have a refit - she was covering for her two sisters at Cairnryan.

I think Stena Adventurer has some major technical work to be done but I don't think she is having any accommodation improvements.

The Darwins will be renamed Pride of Cairnryan & Pride of Larne and cascaded to the North Channel. European Causeway & European Highlander will be lengthened and transferred to Liverpool to Dublin.

You can't be serious about the Pride of Kent and Pride of Canterbury ending up at Larne - for two reasons. 1) why would they replace two ships with two older ships? 2) at 180m long I believe they would be too long to fit the berths at Larne! I also think they might not have the required 5m headroom for operation on the north channel but could stand to be corrected on that one.

I believe she is, now named Santa Marcella. I'm sure she can be found on the internet somewhere.

Does Clipper Group not have a stake in DFDS or DFDS have a stake in Clipper Group?

Hopefully such purpose-built ships will appear on the Irish Sea and not end up being sold to the highest builder before they are even completed!

When I travelled recently, it was Heineken, Fosters and Guinness. I think the cider was Strongbow. They must have changed brewery or something.

Galloway Princess. I also had a soft spot for Darnia, but the Galloway has yet to be bettered for me.

This was one of my favourite routes. It was so handy for Glasgow and I'm saddened to see its demise even though it has been widely expected for some time now. I can't help but think it was deliberately run down to the point of no return - bad management? Possibly, but either way, it's a big loss.

I too have noted the Oscar Wilde in the huge building dock at Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Isn't it great to see the yard getting plenty of work? Does anyone know when she is leaving?

Maybe I'm wrong, but it could be for as simple a reason that Stena Horizon wouldn't fit the berths at Belfast and Cairnryan, whereas, Stena Superfast X does?

I have been reading this thread (and the others) with interest since joining the forum yesterday. I must admit that I find the ferry industry very interesting and Stena Line are one of the more interesting companies. During my travels over the past few months, I have been hearing rumours and suggestions from people I know on the ships about the likelihood of new ships for the company on the Irish Sea. A yard in China or Korea was mentioned and I believe these rumours are very pertinent; there could be four or six vessels built.