Irish Ferries Fleet movements

[jpwoodh]

The news from Rosslare is that a decision on the Norbay replacement is due imminently.

[scomac]

The news from Rosslare is that a decision on the Norbay replacement is due imminently.

"IRISH CONTINENTAL GROUP (ICG) SUBSIDIARY IRISH FERRIES SIGNS BAREBOAT CHARTER AGREEMENT INCLUDING A PURCHASE OBLIGATION WITH DP WORLD FRANCE SAS FOR THE SPIRIT OF BRITAIN.


Released : 15 May 2024 15:59


ICG announces that its subsidiary Irish Ferries has entered into a Bareboat Charter agreement with a purchase obligation for the Spirit of Britain (to be renamed). The vessel is available for immediate delivery and is expected to enter service with Irish Ferries during June.

The Spirit of Britain will enhance our customer offering and increase our capacity for both passenger and freight customers on the Dover – Calais route. The Spirit was built by STX Europe in Finland in 2010, entering service on the Dover – Calais route in 2011 where she has remained in the service of P&O Ferries.

The ship has been acquired for a total consideration of €89.4 million settled through a combination of a two-year bareboat charter set at €20,000 per day and a purchase obligation for €74.8 million at the end of the charter.

The acquisition of the vessel will allow Irish Ferries to move one of the three existing ships on Dover – Calais  to replace a chartered vessel currently operating on the Rosslare – Pembroke route."


Isle of Innisfree is expected to move to Pembroke-Rosslare.

[giftgrub]

and a space charter agreement between IF and P&O on Dover Calais also

https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/icg2/rns1/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=500&newsid=1820731


ICG is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Irish Ferries has signed a space charter agreement with P&O Ferries on the Dover – Calais route. This agreement will encompass both freight and passenger space sharing on both parties' vessels.

 
We expect the agreement to come into effect for our freight customers during this Summer. When implemented, our freight customers will benefit from the advantages of a turn up and go service. This will then be followed on a phased basis for our passenger business.

 
The agreement will result in greater flexibility and more choice for all our customers. While the space charter agreement means that capacity is shared so that customers will have more frequent sailing options, all commercial activities remain entirely under the control of each operator.

[Ferriesbetterfastercheape]

Ok, so the rumours about Spirit of Britain was indeed right... !
The Salesprice seems a bit high (i had expected ca. 80 Mio.) - but therefore IF get the ferry now fast - and not after 3 years time of construction.
And IF has directly deleted their capacity-problems, on weekdays there is actually not really space for more trucks onboard... .
And IF has deleted the problem also to find a bigger more comfortable ferry for the Pembroke-route.

But with the space-charter - what happens now with the space-charter-agreement between DFDS and P&O ?
Is this finished and replaced through IF - Or has P&O now with both of them a space-charter ???

In summary a positive step for IF -
they have in Dover now 2 big relative modern attractive ferries plus 1 freight-orientated.
But the strategy from P&O -
to invest XXXL-money for 2 new-buildings - and then to help a competitor to get a better fleet... ???

[ferryfan]

At a guess can we expect the Isle of Inisheer to replace the Norbay

[jpwoodh]

The Rosslare Port team knew on Tuesday night.  Brilliant to see that Pembroke is secure, and great to see the end of Norbay on the route.



I watched a couple with a newborn traversing the elevated gangway from the rear of the ship to the passenger accommodation, and was worried for them.

[scomac]

At a guess can we expect the Isle of Inisheer to replace the Norbay

Isle of Innisfree is to go to Pembroke-Rosslare.

[scomac]

Confirmation from Irish Ferries that Isle of Innisfree will move to the Irish Sea:

"Irish Ferries is pleased to announce that the ro-ro cruise ferry Isle of Innisfree will move to the Rosslare Pembroke route, replacing a temporary charter ship currently servicing the route.  The Isle of Innisfree was built in 1992 by the Boelwerf shipyard in Belgium and has the capacity to carry up to 1,140 passengers, 83 freight vehicles or 600 cars. The ship offers a host of quality facilities for freight drivers/passengers including Boylan's Brassiere self-service restaurant, Café Lafayette, a Club Class lounge, onboard duty-free shop, children's play area and spacious outdoor decks.  A freight driver's lounge and cabins complete the accommodation.
Irish Ferries have also confirmed today the addition of the Spirit of Britain to its fleet.  The ship, which will be renamed, will join the Dover to Calais route in June, replacing the Isle of Innisfree on this busy route, the key trade link for the UK to Europe."

[ferryfan]

Will Innisfree require alterations to her bow before entering service ie removal of ramp and associated cow catcher apparatus?

[scomac]

Will Innisfree require alterations to her bow before entering service ie removal of ramp and associated cow catcher apparatus?

She doesn't have a ramp fitted to her bow as, at Calais, the ramp is lowered from the shore not the ship. She will likely need some sort of ramp installed to her bow and the cow catchers removed if she is going to use the bow. She will also need ramps installed at the stern.

[ferryfan]

IF have taken control of the Spirit she is now sporting Irish Ferries house flag. She has been moving back and forward from the quay to berth 9 at Dover and so presumably the interior fit out is well underway. Any ideas or news about her new name another Isle Inishturk not been used since the old Leinster but also could have Inishmaan Inishbofin Inchydoney etc if sticking to the I's but my personal favourite would be the Isle of Inishbiggle just for comic value.

[Ferriesbetterfastercheape]

It goes fast now... .

I have read anywhere that the "name-decider" from IF likes the small Islands at the West Coast.
So then normally it could be only one of these Islands.
I don`t like these "Isle of Inish" names because they are very very similar - very difficult for people from outside Ireland.
Or think German ferries would be named "City of" Heidenheim, Hildesheim, Heppenheim, Hoffenheim, Heimsheim, Heitersheim, Hillesheim, Hofheim, Hochheim, Hockenheim ?
Would be very difficult to distinguish for all normal people outside from Germany.
If you f.ex. hear "Hildesheim" today - you are sure in some weeks that it maybe not was "Hillesheim" ?
 
Or is there another famous person similar to W.B. Yeats and Oscar Wilde ?

Otherwise - IF want to get so much money as possible - then why they not sell the ship-names to any interested city or touristic region ? Has the region Kent not paid money for P&Os "Pride of Kent" ?

Maybe f.ex. the major / city-council of Galway pays 100.000,- per year for the name "City of Galway" ? Good advertisement, so that many tourists will not only visit the Ring of Kerry and Dublin - but maybe also Galway - with big bonus for all shops, restaurants, cafes, petrol-stations, hotels etc. there.
So change better the Innisfree in "City of Galway" - or f.ex. "Pembrokeshire".
Same system is f.ex. with football-stadiums - they have mostly got a brand-name from any private big company who pays money only for the name.

Or well-sounding - but not realistic - other companies like names as Spirit of Wales or Pride of Ireland etc. . What about "Star of Ireland" ?

[ferryfan]

Looks like her new crew have being taking the Spirit out for a spin this afternoon.

[Kieran]

Or is there another famous person similar to W.B. Yeats and Oscar Wilde ?

The ships were named after "Saints" in the early days, then the "Isle of..." names came in after they bought out B&I. The Irish Naval service started naming their ships after poets, playwrights and authors (nicknamed the Dead Poets by the Naval Service), so that causes a lot of confusion - there is an LÉ W.B. Yeats (navy) and MV W.B. Yeats (IF). I'd imagine they will stick with the Isle names for Dover.

That said, personally think it would be nice to have a ship named after Lady Gregory.

[Niall]

Or is there another famous person similar to W.B. Yeats and Oscar Wilde ?

The ships were named after "Saints" in the early days, then the "Isle of..." names came in after they bought out B&I. The Irish Naval service started naming their ships after poets, playwrights and authors (nicknamed the Dead Poets by the Naval Service), so that causes a lot of confusion - there is an LÉ W.B. Yeats (navy) and MV W.B. Yeats (IF). I'd imagine they will stick with the Isle names for Dover.

That said, personally think it would be nice to have a ship named after Lady Gregory.

Isle of Innisfree will likely retain her current name unless they rename her for Irish Sea puposes as the Irish Sea fleet are all named after Irish playwrights, authors and novelists