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[Sailing Update- Extra Sailings Added for Monday, April 19th]

Sailing Update- Extra Sailings Added for Monday, April 19th

The Julia will sail on Monday April 19th from Cork to Swansea at 09:00hrs arriving at 19:00hrs

The Julia will sail Monday April 19th from Swansea to Cork at 21:00hrs arriving at 07:00hrs on Tuesday, April 20th

There may also be extra sailings during the week, but this hasnt been confirmed yet...

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Ok, sorry, whilst not wishing to provoke any disagreements here, I feel I MUST be allowed my say in response to last post please.

I have no problem with anything in this...

But, let's face reality, from 10th March until this morning, the chance of docking within 30 mins of advertised arrival time (ie 10 hours after advertised departure time) has, by my records, only been about 25% max. Ok, it's early days I know & hopefully that will be improved upon.

Sadly, that is down to the nature of the route and Swansea's tidal restrictions. I suspect more went on behind the scenes between the Port of Cork and the Port of Swansea. In the early 90's it was proposed that a new ferry port be built further west, at Port Talbolt but never happened...
The Superferry didn't have as big a draft, and her time table was built around the tides, hopefully, Fastnet will learn from the problems they are having and adapt the timetables...and ABP will cop on and do something about the tidal restrictions.
Also, as has been pointed out above, other operators have suffered from the weather the last few days too...

I have not sailed on Julia yet (2 weeks before my first trip), but so far I personally have encountered NOTHING very efficient about the company (continually ignored email requests for booking assistance, a glitch in being unable to book a single voyage still not yet rectified despite being relayed to the company, helpful suggestions - also relayed to the company - not even acknowlged; down to not even a "sailing tonight" poster displayed at Ringaskiddy - on a visit there last week etc).

I can't comment on this...

Also, I feel, the ship's exterior gives a somewhat unkempt appearance, especially with the roughly painted white funnel patches.

True, but Fastnet were very tight on cash starting off, and painting even a small part of a ship isn't cheep. You need scaffolding, time, paint and staff...

Ref the final point of the previous post; my personal experiences of travelling via Rosslare routes, over the past 3.5 years, is that the timekeeping there is normally very impressive - but, before anyone else says it, perhaps I have just been lucky.

Ok, but when treveling stuff will go wrong. About half the flights I have flown into Cork on have been diverted, but I still fly from Cork when I need to. I have been on a translantic flights delayed 6 to 8 hours due to snow, I have been on trains that have run hours late, with no air conditioning, and a screaming child next to me (thank you Irish Rail)...and I have been on ships that have run hours and hours late due to weather....it happens, and you have to factor it into your plans...

Sorry - but I HAVE to speak as I find - I am allowed my viewpoint, just as the previous contributer is allowed his counter view. I am not a complete nautical layman - I have, in the past, sailed as an Officer of two UK registerer passenger vessels (albeit not the size of Julia & not employed on overnight passage).

I have no wish to stir up anything, on this forum, with this post - just to simply respond to the previous post (free speech and all those ideals.....)

As I said, I have no problem with people airing their views, but if you have a complaint about Fastnet, just send it to the company first.

Kieran

Yes, may have been about conditions in port, but passengers only need to get a sniff of fact that all other routes were operational (regardless of conditions at their port), and it doesn't tend to help 'confidence in booking'....I mean, winds in excess of 30 knot, in the Irish Sea, out of season, are by no means uncommon (and tonight's NW is certainly one of the more 'favourable'...later in the week is forecast as Southerly!).

The wind in Cork is a lot stronger than it is in Rosslare, however the valley that the harbour is in would stop win being a major issue in Cork, its the ride at sea and passengers comfort that she would be delayed for.
Also, Innishmore is canceled this morning due to the wind.

On a brighter note I've read some good news on Skib's Southern Star (online).

There have been announcements like that before, don't believe it is true until it is in a Shareholder's Update....
Incase anyone hasn't seen it, Southern Star is claiming that the Tanaiste/Enterprise Ireland has secured €1.5million for Fastnet...

Also, just came across this. For sailings with late departures, there is an option of early boarding:

SAILING UPDATE
Sailing Update Sunday, March 21st

Fastnet Line wish to advise that the departure time for this evening sailing from Swansea to Cork has been changed to 11:00pm due to tidal conditions in Swansea. Passengers can still check in from 6:00pm and all facilities on board will be open.

I was going to edit my post and accept that there would be a tidal range and look for info on the lowest working tide. Actually looked up Swansea on Easytide but no info.
(It is not possible to edit posts.?)
So it is not going to be easy to know from departure time whether it is worth having a real late night knowing arrival will  be delayed!!
So it is the approach to the berth that has a "hump".
So if they "knowingly" miss a tide is it impossible to turn up at shortish notice at Pembroke or are the logisitcs too difficult.
I know Super Ferry used Pembroke on the dodgy tides in it's shedule so is Julia doing the same thing?

There should be an option to "update session" and edit a post after that.

Swansea is a very very odd port, she is the biggest ship you will fit in there (there is also a restriction on a ships length on the ro-ro berth). Off the top of my head, the Julia's draft is more than 5 meters, but the approach would be judged safe by the amount of water that would be under her at the dock. The exact window would vary from day to day (she will be hit by spring tides this time of year also). I'll see if I can find out more what kind of time frame she has.

The Superferry did go to Pembroke once or twice a year, but that was timetabled, and on spring tides, so would have been arranged well in advance. She would need dockers, pilots, and agents to handle her if she did change port (unless, lets say, there was an emergency and it was viewed easier to go to port rather than call out the Coast Guard/RAF). The fees for an alternative port could add up pretty quickly...

Now my question for the experts is: what is the window of access opportunity for Julia into Swansea.
ie. how far either side of low water can she move?

It's a lot more complicated than that! The tide isn't the same every day either, you are looking at about two hours, on average, each side of low tide that is out...
As I said before, there is bed rock on the approach to Swansea's ro-ro berth that can't be dredged, that's where the problem with the port lies...

[Unless you have proof, please do not accuse or imply Fastnet, or anyone else, of hiring people for less than minimum wage]

There was no jobs advertised on the fastnet website. Do any of you work at sea, i bet you don't. Sounds to me that you all have an important interest in the company. Every other reader will see this. You'd be blind to think that the crew they have picked is purely for there friendlessness, there experience,or because no irish applied. Don't make me laugh. Cheap Labour, Cheap Labour and no other reason. What other company in the country has the opportunity to flag itself out to enable it to pay wages below the irish minimum wage. ANSWER = A SHIPPING COMPANY

There was an invation to send CVs in to Fastnet Line in the FAQ section of the website. It wasn't a flashing gif, but it was there.
Unless you have proof, please do not accuse or imply Fastnet, or anyone else, of hiring people for less than minimum wage. Getting a ship on the Irish Register is not easy or cheep (and Fastnet are working off a very tight budget), I may not work at sea but have a very good understanding of the opperational end of things.

Changing the subject... I see Julia had to go out to anchor for most of the day today, in the harbour, to allow Pont Aven on to the berth....which presumably will be the case every Saturday now, for the season.

Ships aren't allowed on the 2 ro-ro berths at the same time after the Val and Superferry had a wee collision a few years back.

The posts were advertised on the Fastnet Line website, and her crewing is managed by Fastnet, not an outsourced company like Dobson.

["Shareholder Update Tuesday 16th March 2010]

Full statement about the problems over the last few days up on The Peoples Ferry, see below:

      "Shareholder Update Tuesday 16th March 2010
      As you know - Julia commenced her Swansea-Cork sailings on 10th March - which of course we are delighted with. You are also probably aware that, despite the thorough checks and maintenance that Julia went through both in Cork and Swansea - the initial sailings have suffered from some mechanical problems - which was very unfortunate. We suspended two sailings over the weekend in order to rectify these issues and we thought that you should be aware of the precise details of these problems.

      Paul O'Brien, Co-op General Manager travelled on the sailings from Cork to Swansea on Thursday 11th March and the return from Swansea to Cork on the 12th March. Both of these sailings were significantly delayed.

      On the outward sailing one of the two starboard engines developed a problem, and, while the cause at that time was unknown, the ship was stopped while a tug came out from Cork as a precautionary measure. The sailing was resumed after an hour, but the delay meant that the ferry missed the tide in Swansea and she had to wait to enter the port, so she did not reach her berth in Swansea until 12.30 p.m. on Friday. The fault was subsequently found to be an electronic problem in a governor on the engine and was rectified for the journey back to Cork.

      Julia was loaded without any problem on Friday night for the return journey, but when the ramp was retracted and folded there was a failure which meant that it was unable to be locked in place. Fastnet Line engineers worked to fix the problem but were unable to do so in time to catch the tide on the way out from Swansea. The problem was traced to an electronic control of the hydraulic system and was also repaired before the crossing commenced on the next available tide which was 1 a.m. Saturday (13th March).

      The crossing was made in good conditions on four engines and we made good time. However, during the crossing a fault developed in the pitch control on one of the two propellers. The propeller use was unaffected but the pitch control is used under different load conditions and sea states and is also used when berthing. Again this fault was traced to an electronic control which has now been repaired. The fault however was not repaired in time for the Saturday night sailing and so two further sailings on Saturday and Sunday were cancelled. Conor Buckley, Chairman and Padraig Fleming (founder member of the Co-Op), were due to travel on Saturday night and were able to assist our customers affected by the cancelled Saturday night sailing (who were offered free transport to Cork and return journeys via an alternative ferry company).The Julia has been out for sea trials on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th March and with no further problems is sailing on schedule today Tuesday.

      The Committee of the Co-Op held its weekly meeting on board the Julia on Monday night, 15th March and received reports from CEO, Tom Barrett and Operations Manager, Owen Barry to discuss recent events. While disappointed with the missed sailings and adverse publicity, we are heartened by the degree of support for the service expressed by the very people who have been affected. The committee plan to have a presence on board each sailing for the next few weeks to help with the bedding in of the service and to speak with passengers to know and understand first hand any issues which might arise

      On a positive note - we are hearing reports from B&B and Hotel owners in West Cork that suggest that their booking for the 2010 season are already some 30% up on last season - with many potential visitors citing the new ferry service as a major factor in their holiday plans. We are confident that, with this initial bedding-in period out of the way, Julia will be able to operate to schedule and deliver the kind of service that we all expect."

["the long long road"]

If its not one its the other, I note that "the long long road"ferry companies are again advertising on the front of The Examiner. Why all all the adverts?

...

Fastnet lines keep up the great work, a case of David and Goliath!!!!

Read through the history of SCF on the main site...it is not the first time that has happened...

2300 & still on the berth at Ringaskiddy & announcement that tomorrow night is cancelled. I thought tonight would be ok - as she was running well (17 knot) for the last part of the inward journey at lunch time.

Could be putting a lot of strain on the engines (which as I said, need to be broken in), or could be the case that it was viewed better to fix the problem now rather than it continue on into high season with it.

From time to time all operators experience difficulties, I recall Stena Europe Drifting without power, Stena Explorer colliding with the pier in Dun Laoghaire and the recent fire on the Oscar Wilde. Fastnet Lines have been tested by these minor technical difficulties, the new service is a wonderful addition to the Southwest.

...and I spent many times sitting in Roscoff as the Val de Loire was stuck there on the low tide....this stuff happens, least we have a ship in service!
Sadly the approach to the berth in Swansea is bedrock (so cant be dredged), only solution is move the berth (as was proposed in the early 90s to Port Talbolt) or start blowing a deeper channel with TNT (as was done in St. Malo)...

...have to sort out a trip on her now!

I think it really is a missed opportunity not to have the company name painted on the side of the ship think of all people who would see the fastnetline.com brand today if that had been done, I know the funds are not endless but it should be a priority to have the ship branded with the web address and the funnel is crying out for a logo to be attached. With the long layovers in port this could be done quite easy.

You could buy a reasonably big house (that is not an exaggeration!) for the price it would cost to repaint a ship. As with renaming her, the priority was getting the service up and running.

Does anybody know why the JULIA is so late.

Her engines were very heavily overhauled in Cork while she was laid up, I would assume they are trying to break them back in slowly. Giver her another week...

Left Athlone this morn at 0315 to be at St Colemans Cathedral in Cobh to witness this great sight.

Now THAT is dedication!

Some nice shots above, I just added some more photos of her that Des took to the gallery.

Great to see her finally in service...