Swansea Cork Ferries – Fleet

Superferry

Built 1972
Hashihama, Japan
Rebuild 1992
Perama, Greece
Size 14, 797gt
137.8M x 20M x 5.7M
Capacity Passengers: 1,400
Berths: 429
Cars: 330
Engines
Speed
2 x Piedlsitck (14, 033kW)
21kts
Route Cork-Swansea

The Superferry has been used for nine of the last ten years, and the Superferry is now owned by the company, who are owned by an Irish business consortium. She was built for Japanese services from Tokyo to Tokushaima and Kokura and was brought by Strintzis Line in 1991. She was rebuilt internally before being placed in Greek demotic traffic. Soon after she was chartered to Swansea-Cork Ferries, who were taken over by Strintzic Line in 1993 who retained control until selling to the present owners in 1999. After remaining in Greece as Blue Aegean in 2001, Superferry had her old name restored in 2002 when she was purchased by the consortium for year round service.On October 8th, the Superferry made her last sailing for Swansea-Cork ferries, and after a crew change in Swansea set sail for Egypt.

City of Cork

Built 1973 / 1982
J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co, Germany
Size 7,984gt
125.63M x 21.4M x5.53M
Capacity Passengers: 1,172
Berths: 812
Cars: 420
Engines
Speed
2 x Stork-Werkspoor 16TM410
21kts
Route Cork-Swansea

The former Saint Patrick II made a return to once familiar waters as City of Cork on cubcharter to Swansea – Cork Ferries. Orgionally built as M/S Aurella for Viking Line services between Kapellskär (Sweeden) – Mariehamn – Nådendal (Finland), ICG purchased the St. Patrick II to provide extra capacity on the Ireland-France route in the summer months. The lack of traffic during the winter saw her chartered to other operators, including the B&I Line, P&O, Sealink and Tallink. However falling passenger numbers saw the route suspended in September 1997, and the St. Patrick II was put up for sale. She headed to Greece and sailed for 2 years as Egnatia II. In 2000 she entered service with BalebarExpress between Sete in France and Palma (Majorca), as Ville de Sete. 2001 saw her return to Irish waters and one of her former Irish ports, when she sailed as the City of Cork for Swansea-Cork Ferries, however she ran into problems with maratime safety authorities on both sides of the Irish Sea resultingg in cancellations at thee start of the season, however she was used for only one season, and the Superferry returned in 2002.She was sold in 2002 to by the Canadian government, and she now sails as C.T.M.A. VACANCIER between Montreal and Cap-aux-Meules

Ionian Sun

Built 1969
Verolme Cork Dockyard, Ireland
Size 7,311gt
118.32M x 17.4M x4.44M
Capacity Passengers: 1,371
Berths: 278
Cars: 249
Engines
Speed
MAN
21kts
Route Cork-Swansea

Built for the B&I Line as the Leinster (5) in Cork in 1969, the ship ran the company’s Dublin – Liverpool service until 1980, when she was renamed the Innisfallen (5), known in Cork as the “false Innis” as a result of her being unable to keep her timetable on the longer Cork-Pembroke Dock sailings, she concentrated on Rosslare-Pembroke. A deal to sell her to Italian interests fell through in 1984, and she was laid up in Dublin. However plans to replace both her and St. Brendan (Sealink) with one super ferry failed to materialise and she was sent south again to run between Rosslare and Fishguard with her former competitor. In 1986 the 18 year old ship was sold to Strintzis Lines, Greece. She was renamed the Ionian Sun for services between Ancona, Corfu, Igoumenitsa, and Patras. In 1990, to the surprise of many she reappeared in Cork sailing for Swansea-Cork ferries trading as Celtic Pride II (but not officially renamed). Strintzis Lines had remodelled her with more cabins, and greater freight and car capacity. In early 1991 she returned to her owners, and after a short while as Chamas she reverted to Ionian Sun, and remained in Greek services until being laid up in 2000. In November 2001, she was sold to Marco Shipping, Dubai and renamed Merdif. In August 2004, she was seen at a breakers yard in India.

Celtic Pride

Built 1972
Chantiers Dubigeon S.A., France
Size 10,241gt
126.92M x 19.51M x 5.17M
Capacity Passengers: 984
Berths: 400
Cars: 146
Engines
Speed
2 x Pielstick 16PC2V-400
21kts
Route Cork-Swansea
Cork – Roscoff

Ordered in 1970 by Silja Line, MS Aallotar, was christened in 1971, and delivered in February 1971. On 29 February she was took up Silja Line traffic between Helsinki and Stockholm (becoming the first car/passenger ferry to operate on the route), and the first to operate the service around the year. In June she was joined in the route by her brand-new sister MS Svea Regina. In December 1972 she collided with a Swedish ice breaker in the Stockholm archipelago, but was did not suffer serious damage.

The Helsinki – Stockholm route to was such a success that Silja Line decided to order three larger ferries to replace the Aallotar and her sister, to be delivered in 1975. On 7 July 1975, after delivery of her larger replacement, Aallotar was transferred to Turku – Mariehamn – Norrtälje service. She proved unprofitable on the freight-oriented route, and in August 1976 the Aallotar was laid up, pending sale. However no buyer was found however, and between June and August 1977 the Aallotar was back in active service, sailing between Turku and Stockholm. After this she was again laid up again, but was chartered to Polferries in October 1977 and placed on their Helsinki – Gdansk, Poland.

On 14 May 1978 Polferries bought the Aallotar and renamed her MS Rogalin. During the next four years she was used on the routes Helsinki – Gdansk, and Copenhagen – Swinoujscie. In September 1979 the Rogalin collided with a Dutch tanker outside Porkkala. In May 1982 the Rogalin was transferred to Copenhagen – Travemünde service.

In May 1983 the Rogalin was chartered to the Icelandic company Faraskip until September of the same year. She was renamed M/SEdda and set in traffic between Reykjavík, Newcastle and Bremerhaven. After the charter ended she reverted to her old name and was again set in Polferries traffic. In 31 December 1985 she made a special cruise from Stettin to London.

Between May and December 1987 the Rogalin was chartered to the new Swansea-Cork Ferries and sailed as the M/S Celtic Pride. The charter was renewed in 1988 and again between May and December, the MS Celtic Pride sailed between Cork and Swansea. Between the charters she returned again to the name Rogalin and was used in Polferries traffic. In March 1991 she was chartered to Swansea Cork Ferries for the third time, again under the name Celtic Pride. Tragedy struck in August 1992 when two teenagers, a brother and sister, died in their cabin en route to Cork. They had been overcome by fumes, traced to an alteration that had been made to the venting system in a septic tank. It proved impossible to determine where and when the alteration had been made. The charter ended on the 1st of November 1992, and once again the ship returned to Polferries traffic under the name Rogalin. After this she was at least occasionally used on the route Gdansk – Nynäshamn.

In July 1999 the Rogalin was reflagged to the Bahamas. From November 2002 onwards she was used only on the route Ystad – Swinoujscie. In July 2003 the 31-year old ferry was taken out of traffic, laid up and put for sale. In October she was sold to Indian shipbreakers and on 25 November she arrived in Alang, India where she was scrapped.