HOME

LATEST

HISTORY

LINKS

31st December 2005

The period between Christmas and New Year was generally slack for freight but there was a small peak in passenger and car traffic passing through the port of Larne, particularly on Larne - Cairnryan services.  Carryings on this route quite unexpectedly benefited from airline passengers transferred to sea due to airports in Scotland and Northern England being closed because of heavy snowfalls in those regions, thankfully the east coast of Northern Ireland as a whole dodged the snow.

Larne - Cairnryan operated a normal schedule between Christmas and New Year once things got back on stream on the 27/12/05.  The final sailing before the New Year was the 1630 services from either port.  The final sailing ex Larne in 2005 was taken by European Causeway which laid up in Cairnryan over New Year while European Highlander completed her last inbound sailing of 2005, which arrived in Larne at 1830.  European Highlander then spent the turn of the year at her usual berth in Larne on MacKean Quay.

After having a two week lay up over the entire Christmas and New Year period in 2004 with her route suspended during that time, this year European Mariner operated her usual single round voyage to Troon at 1900 each evening from 28/12/05 until 30/12/05.  Her final sailing was the return 0230 sailing ex Troon on the 31/12/05 which arrived in Larne at 0645, berthing on Chaine Quay.

Larne - Fleetwood sailings were operating a reduced schedule between the Christmas and New Year holidays.  From the 27/12/05 until the 29/12/05 a single sailing at 2200 from either port was operated utilising Stena Pioneer and Stena Leader.  Vessels arrived at 0600 the following morning and spent the day laid up until their evening sailings.  On the 30/12/05 a normal 2 ship service was operated with departures from either port at 1000 and 2200.  This led into New Year's Eve, 31/12/05, with Stena Leader making her final trip of 2005 on the 2200 sailing from Fleetwood which arrived in Larne at 0715.  Stena Leader berthed at Curran Quay and once discharge was completed she commenced her New Year lay up on that berth.  Stena Pioneer had the honour of completing the Fleetwood route's final 2005 sailing with a special sailing at 1100 ex Fleetwood carrying unaccompanied cargo only.  She arrived at Larne's Continental Quay at 1900, becoming Larne's last arrival of 2005.

With both Stena Pioneer and Stena Leader staying in Larne for the New Year, route companion Stena Seafarer remained out of service undergoing her annual overhaul at Birkenhead.  She headed to Fishguard after refit to relieve Stena Europe for her overhaul from 7/1/06.

A summary table of the final sailings of 2005 and first sailings of 2006 for each of the Larne based ferries is included below.

European Highlander Wins an Award for Providing Excellent Disabled Access

30th December 2005

The Larne - Cairnryan ferry European Highlander has been recognised and rewarded by the Equality Commission as providing easy access for disabled passengers.  The full news report is copied below from the Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press dated 30/12/05. 

P&O's Highlander wins top disabled access award

P&O IRISH Sea superferry, the European Highlander, has been awarded The William Keown Trust Access Award 2005.

It recognises the ease of access for disabled passengers while travelling on the Cairnryan to Larne service.  Elain Waterson of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland presented the award to P&O Irish Sea at the William Keown Trust's Annual Presentation of Prestige Access Awards.

Bill Keown, founder of the Trust, travelled on board the European Highlander to carry out an access audit, he said: "Good-sized lifts allow passengers access to the various decks which are light and roomy with excellent space for wheelchair manoeuvrability. The Quiet Lounge provides an area for comfortable relaxation while the Fables Restaurant is spacious with dining tables at a suitable height for wheelchair users. The care and dedication of the crew on the European Highlander is a credit to P&O Irish Sea".

Graham McCullough, General Manager Scottish Services, P&O Irish Sea, "We are delighted the European Highlander has achieved the William Keown Trust Access Award in 2005. This award recognises the ease of access for all of the community on our Larne to Cairnryan Service."

25th December 2005

After a busy run up to Christmas all ferry services from Larne deserved the well earned festive break with services first beginning to wind down for the holiday period on the 21/12/05.

The first vessel to stand down was Stena Seafarer, which completed her last Larne - Fleetwood sailing on the 21/12/05 and the next day went to dry dock (see 22/12/05 story below for more details).  Fleetwood companions Stena Pioneer and Stena Leader stood down after their respective 2200 sailings on the 23/12/05.  Stena Pioneer arrived in Larne at 0820 on 24/12/05, discharged on Continental Quay and then shifted to Curran Quay at 1015 to commence her Christmas lay up while Stena Leader laid up in Fleetwood over the Christmas period.

On the Larne - Troon freight service, European Mariner completed her sailings with the 0230 sailing ex Troon on the 24/12/05.  After arrival in Larne the vessel discharged at Curran Quay and then shifted to Chaine Quay at 0800 for Christmas lay up.

Larne - Cairnryan services continued until the 1630 sailings from either port on the 24/12/05.  On arrival in Larne shortly after 1800, European Highlander commenced her Christmas lay up on MacKean Quay while sister ship European Causeway was laid up in Cairnryan.

A summary table of last sailings and lay up locations for the 6 Larne based vessels is included below for reference:

Tanker Brabourne Brings in the Oil

24th December 2005

Brabourne made her second visit of the week to Ballylumford Power Station on 24/12/05, this follows her first visit on the 21/12/05 and further details of this visit can be read below on the news story posted on that date.  The vessel brought in a cargo of diesel oil from the Milford Haven refineries, arriving at the A jetty at 1330.  Discharge was completed shortly after 2200 and the vessel departed the port bound for Milford Haven at 2250.
 

Stena Seafarer to Dry Dock

22nd December 2005

Stena Seafarer completed her final sailing prior to Christmas with her usual 1600 sailing ex Larne on the 21/12/05.  On arrival in Fleetwood, the vessel discharged her cargo and departed early the next morning for annual refit at Birkenhead, passing into number 7 dry dock around 1400.  Her annual overhaul is scheduled to last until early January 2006 after which it is expected the Seafarer will be used to cover the overhauls of some of the other Stena Line Irish Sea fleet, due to begin with the Fishguard based Stena Europe.

Tanker Brabourne Arrives

21st December 2005

Coastal tanker Brabourne, a member of the fleet of Crescent Tankships, paid a visit to the port of Larne on the 21/12/05 with a cargo of oil for Ballylumford Power Station.  The tanker passed into the port shortly after 0900 and was all fast on the Power Station's A jetty at 0930.  Once discharge was completed the tanker departed the port again at 1900 bound for Milford Haven, leaving in the wake of European Mariner departing on her scheduled 1900 sailing to Troon.  Local tug Sarah McLoughlin was the pilot boat both for the inward and outward passage of the tanker.

Some Brabourne stats:

Length: 78.50m                                                         
Beam: 12.60m
Draft: 4.86m
Built: 1989
Gross Tonnage: 1646 tons
Deadweight: 1675 tonnes
Speed: 10.3 knots
Port of Registry: London UK
 

Extra Cairnryan Voyage

18th December 2005

European Causeway and European carried out an extra round voyage on Sunday 18/12/05.  Instead of the usual single departure on Sundays at 1300, both ships sailed at 1030 and 1330 from either port.

16th December 2005

Galway Fisher made a second run to Ballylumford Power Station with oil from Milford Haven on the 16/12/05.  The tanker arrived at the power station's A Jetty at 1500 with the assistance of local tug Sarah McLoughlin.  Once discharge was completed the tanker departed light ship back to Milford Haven at 2330 with Sarah McLoughlin once more out to collect the pilot when Galway Fisher had departed the port.

9th December 2005

Coastal tanker Galway Fisher arrived at Ballylumford Power Station with a delivery of diesel oil on the 9/12/05.  The vessel arrived at the Power Station's A jetty at 1100 with the assistance of local tug Sarah McLoughlin.  With discharge complete the tanker left later that evening at 2100 bound for Milford Haven.  Sarah McLoughlin once again assisted, picking the pilot up when the ship had safely cleared number one buoy outward bound.

4th December 2005

European Mariner did another windmill run from Campbeltown to Troon over the weekend of 3/12/05 to 4/12/05.  She left Larne for Campbeltown after discharging from her 0230 freight sailing ex Troon on the 3/12/05 to load with windfarm equipment which she later delivered to Troon.  She then spent the weekend laid up at Troon before returning to Larne light ship to take up her scheduled 1900 freight sailing on the 4/12/05.

2nd December 2005

The Stena Leader had some engine difficulties on passage with the 1000 sailing from Larne to Fleetwood on the 30/11/05.  On arrival off the Lancashire coast the vessel remained at sea and allowed the Stena Seafarer, following her with the 1600 ex Larne, to go into Fleetwood first arriving at 2230.  The Stena Seafarer sailed again from Fleetwood at 0130 on the 1/12/05 with most of the cargo originally destined for the Stena Leader's own 2200 sailing ex Fleetwood.

The Stena Leader finally got into Fleetwood at 0700 on the 1/12/05 and reloaded for Larne departing at 1030 thereby getting back on her usual sailing roster (1000 ex Fleetwood, 2200 ex Larne) after the gales of the previous week had switched both her and the Stena Pioneer onto each other's usual sailing cycles.  Stena Pioneer arrived at Fleetwood at 1200 after operating the previous evening's 2200 ex Larne delayed until 2359.  Stena Pioneer then remained in Fleetwood all day picking up her usual sailing cycle with that evening's departure to Larne.

Also causing problems on the 2/12/05 was Stena Seafarer, which was delayed for 2 hours at Larne after repairs to resolve a minor technical problem put back her scheduled 1600 departure until 1815.

28th November 2005

Continuing gale force northerly winds funnelling down through the North Channel caused widespread disruption to all ferry sailings from Larne from the 24/11/05 to the 28/11/05.  In addition, thick fog on the 21/11/05 and 22/11/05 caused delays at Fleetwood for the three Stena Line vessels.

Cairnryan Service:

Wind delays began to become a major factor for European Causeway and European Highlander on Thursday the 24/11/05 with sailings beginning to slip behind schedule.  The bad weather was prolonging berthing operations as well as passage times, while turnround times were pushed to the limit coping with extremely large loads which included extra traffic diverted from cancelled Stena Line Belfast - Stranraer sailings.  By Saturday 25/11/05 the ships were one round trip behind schedule and thus sailing on the opposite roster to normal. This was rectified on Sunday 26/11/05 when the normal sailing schedule was restored by both vessels completing an extra round sailing, departing Larne at 1030  and 1330 instead of the single sailing at 1300.

Troon Service:

European Mariner remained in Larne for two days because of the gales, missing her round voyages at 1900 ex Larne on 24/11/05 and 25/11/05.  With a slight lull on the 26/11/05, the European Mariner sailed at 0800 for Troon during what would have been her usual Saturday lay up period.  She returned to Larne again at  2130, remaining in port overnight before sailing on the 27/11/05, again at 0800 on another sailing to Troon outside the regular timetable.  She returned later that evening at 1900 and took her scheduled 1900 service to Troon departing at 2045.  This delayed her return to Larne until 0910 on the 28/11/05 instead of the usual 0645.

Fleetwood Service:

Fleetwood sailings first experienced delay on the 21/11/05 when thick fog at Fleetwood  prevented Stena Pioneer from navigating the channel into the port around 1830, at the conclusion of her 1000 sailing ex Larne.  Stena Pioneer finally got into Fleetwood when the visibility improved in the early hours of the 22/11/05 but her delay caused knock on delays to the other vessels in the fleet of around 12 hours, with both Stena Seafarer and Stena Leader having to wait off Fleetwood together until the Stena Pioneer had discharged and reloaded for her passage back to Larne.  The delay saw Stena Pioneer and Stena Leader switch rosters while Stena Seafarer, normally at Larne in the afternoon, was now usually in Larne during the early hours of the morning when she should normally be in Fleetwood.

When the wind picked up to gale force on the 24/11/05 the vessels started losing time as voyage times were greatly extended.  By the 25/11/05, all three ships had lost around 5 hours in addition to the fog delays earlier in the week as special weather routed courses were chosen to protect ship and cargo as much as possible from the heavy weather.  Some quite breathtaking displays of ship handling were on show by the Stena masters as they battled against the elements to berth their vessels at Continental Quay - Larne's most exposed berth to northerly winds.

By Saturday 26/11/05 the bad weather had caused all three ships to miss a complete round trip but the drop in freight traffic at the weekend allowed the ships to lay up for short periods to regain schedule.  By Sunday 27/11/05 the Stena Seafarer had regained her normal schedule with the 1600 sailing ex Larne while Stena Pioneer and Stena Leader restored the usual 1000 and 2200 sailings from Larne although operating on the opposite roster to normal.  Both ships switched back to normal after the Stena Leader encountered some delays with an engine problem over the 30/11/05 to the 1/12/05.

Below are a selection of windswept photographs taken at Larne between 0900 and 1045 on Monday 25/11/05.

Van Gogh Calls at Larne

26th November 2005

Cruise ship Van Gogh made her second call of the year at Larne harbour on the evening of the 26/11/05.  The vessel arrived off the port approaches inbound from Greenock shortly before 1800 but waited outside to allow the inbound European Highlander to dock first.  Once the European Highlander was secured on MacKean Quay at 1830 the Van Gogh entered the harbour and with the assistance of the tugs Sarah McLoughlin, Donna McLoughlin and David F was all fast on Curran Quay at 1915.  Around 60 passengers were embarked in Larne for a cruise of the Western Mediterranean and the vessel sailed again at 2045, her next port of call being Lisbon.

Wind Disruptions

13th November 2005

Strong north/north westerly gales in the Irish Sea caused disruptions to the sailings of Larne - Fleetwood vessels over the 9/11/05 to the 13/11/05.  By 11/11/05 the three vessels were sailing between 4-6 hours late and the decision was taken to withdraw the Stena Pioneer for one round sailing to get her back on schedule.  After the vessel arrived at 1210 she discharged her inbound cargo and shifted to anchor to allow the following vessels into port.  The Stena Pioneer then picked up her usual 1000 sailing ex Larne on the 12/11/05.  The following day, the 12/11/05, Stena Seafarer underwent her scheduled weekend lay up, this allowed her to regain schedule with her usual 1600 sailing on the 13/11/05.  Stena Leader continued to sail throughout and with winds moderating on the 12/11/05 she quickly regained the time she had lost to get back on schedule by her 2200 sailing ex Larne on 13/11/05.

Troon freight sailings by European Mariner also suffered delays due to the same gales but was able to make up for it on turn rounds.  For the record, she completed a Campbeltown to Troon windmill run over the weekend 12/11/05 to 13/11/05.

Multicat Visitor

9th November 2005

Multicat vessel Forth Constructor called at Larne on the 9/11/05 berthing on Olderfleet Quay.  The vessel remained in port overnight and continued her journey south the following morning at approx 0745.

8th November 2005

The Larne - Fleetwood vessel Stena Seafarer experienced technical problems on the 6/11/05 forcing her to be withdrawn from service for repairs.  The ship arrived in Larne at 1000 on the 6/11/05 after covering the Stena Pioneer's usual sailing to allow the Stena Pioneer a weekend off for maintenance.  After discharging her inbound cargo, Stena Seafarer departed Larne for anchorage in Belfast Lough off Bangor to undergo repairs.  Her 1600 ex Larne sailings on the 6/11/05 and 7/11/05 were cancelled with traffic being transferred to the other Larne - Fleetwood  vessels.  With repairs completed the Stena Seafarer recommenced her schedule with the 1600 sailing from Larne on 8/11/05.

6th November 2005

European Mariner continued with her semi-regular windfarm shipments from Campbeltown over the weekend of the 5/11/05 - 6/11/05.  However, this particular shipment of windfarm components wasn't destined for Larne as the previous cargoes this year but instead was delivered from Campbeltown to Troon.  European Mariner departed Larne at 0940 on the 5/11/05 to pick up the cargo in Campbeltown and she returned to Larne the following morning with the drop off in Troon completed at 0800 on the 6/11/05.

4th November 2005

Coastal cargo vessel Stina paid a visit to the port of Larne on the 4/11/05.  The red hulled vessel arrived at Olderfleet Quay at 0535 and discharged her cargo of silver sand before departing again at 1650 later on that same evening.

31st October 2005

The Royal Navy vessel HMS Walney (M104) made a courtesy visit to Larne Harbour over the weekend 28/10/05 to 31/10/05.  The Sandown class mine hunter arrived at Castle Quay shortly after 0900 on the 28/10/05 berthing bow to bow with Larne's Trent class lifeboat Dr John McSparran.  Castle Quay's other usual incumbent, the tug Samuel F, was moved the previous day to Olderfleet Quay make way for the navy vessel. 

HMS Walney was open to the public between 1300 and 1600 on the 30/10/05 with guided tours being carried out by her crew.  She departed again at 1400 on the 31/10/05 escorted by local tug Sarah McLoughlin. 

Further reading on HMS Walney is available here:
http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/1625.html

Coaster Call

26th October 2005

Coastal cargo vessel Ranafjord made a call at Larne harbour with a cargo of dolomite chippings on 25/10/05.  The ship berthed on Olderfleet Quay shortly after 0500 with tug Sarah McLoughlin as pilot boat.  The vessel discharged her cargo and departed Larne again on the afternoon of 26/10/05.

23rd October 2005

During a scheduled weekend maintenance lay up over 22/10/05 to 23/10/05 the Stena Leader received a small Stena Line logo, web address and telephone number placed on the side of the footbridge from the after end of the passenger accommodation over to the vehicle deck access doors in the funnel island.  Apart from the Stena 'S' logo on their funnels, this is the first instance of any of the Larne - Fleetwood vessels receiving any kind of Stena Line trade name on their sides.

16th October 2005

The light tender Granuaile 3 called in at Larne between 0750 and 0910 on 16/10/05 to drop off some buoys at Islandmagee.  The vessel arrived off the port the previous evening and anchored off shore prior to coming in to the harbour.  After clearing the harbour approaches, Granuaile 3 inspected the Maidens light and both buoys marking Hunter's Rock.  She spent a second night anchored off the entrance to the buoyed channel into the port before departing the area on 17/10/05.

Minor Timetable Alteration

16th October 2005

At the conclusion of the summer timetable with the completion of the fast ferry service by Express on the 3/10/05, the Larne - Cairnryan schedule reverted to the usual conventional ferry timetable with one slight alteration to sailing times on Sundays.  The usual 1200 (Sunday only) sailing to Cairnryan by European Causeway now departs Larne one hour later at 1300 with an arrival time in Cairnryan of 1500.  European Highlander has also had her Sunday schedule altered and sails from Cairnryan at 1300 on Sundays only instead of the previous departure time of 1330, this now sees her arrive in Larne 30 minutes early at 1500.  Monday to Saturday schedules remain unaltered.

9th October 2005

The fast ferry Express departed Larne shortly after 0900 on 6/10/05 for her winter lay up berth at Belfast's Donegall Quay, where she arrived at around 1100.  The vessel was laid up at Chaine Quay over the previous few days since she completed service on the 3/10/05 during which time she underwent some maintenance work and loaded essential items required for the winter lay up in Belfast. 

The fast craft's move to Belfast now allows European Mariner access to Chaine Quay when necessary and the Troon freight vessel used the berth for the first time since the Express departed when she spent the weekend of 8/10/05 to 9/10/05 laid up on Chaine Quay.  This move allowed Stena Pioneer to spend an uninterrupted weekend carrying out maintenance work at the longer berth at Curran Quay, which is normally used for the Troon freight service.
 

Express pictured at Donegall Quay Belfast on 8/10/05.  This berth has been used by some notable names in the ferry world down the years including Befast Car Ferries' Saint Colum I, Sealink's Earl William and P&O's Ulster Prince all of which served the Belfast - Liverpool route at one time or another.  It was most recently used this summer for Isle of Man Steam Packet Company sailings to Douglas by Superseacat Two.  Both photos: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge).

Express Finishes a Successful Season

3rd October 2005

P&O fast ferry Express completed sailings on her first summer season on the North Channel with the 2020 sailing ex Troon on 3/10/05.  Although no official figures have yet been released, it is expected that traffic carried on the Troon route is well up compared to the 2004 summer season.  With the demise of the rival Seacat service from Belfast to Troon last winter it appears P&O have benefited greatly with much of the former Seacat traffic transferring to the Larne - Troon route.

With a rather infamous past record for poor mechanical reliability it is also pleasing to report that Express had quite a reliable summer with very few mechanical breakdowns that resulted in cancelled services.  The changes to the fast ferry timetable this year with longer turnarounds and the dropping of a round trip to Cairnryan appear to have helped the craft maintain a reliability record more in line with what the route had been accustomed to under the stewardship of the excellent Superstar Express rather than the dismal reliability provided by initial fast craft at Larne, the Jetliner.

The Express is due to remain at Larne for the next few days before departing the port for winter lay up.

1st October 2005

Both European Mariner and fast craft Express suffered delays and cancellations to services due to adverse weather in the North Channel on the 1/10/05. 

With weather conditions in Larne reasonably benign, in contrast the conditions in Troon during the early morning of 1/10/05 were extremely bad resulting in European Mariner being delayed on her return to Larne with the 0230 ex Troon freight sailing.  This trip arrived in Larne at 1315 instead of 0645 and the late arrival, as well as the continuing severe weather conditions on the Scottish coast caused the cancellation of European Mariner's usual weekend windmill run to Campbeltown.

Express operated her usual morning Troon round trip from Larne at 0715 on the 1/10/05 but on her return to Larne at 1200 all her sailings were cancelled for the rest of the day in light of the continuing severe weather on the Scottish side of the North Channel.  Traffic was diverted to European Causeway and European Highlander sailings to and from Cairnryan.  Large loads of mainly football fans returning home from matches in Scotland booked on the cancelled Express sailing at 2020 ex Troon were accommodated by a special 2300 sailing ex Cairnryan operated by European Causeway.  The European Causeway arrived in Larne with the diverted Troon traffic at 0045 on 2/10/05 berthing on Curran Quay, the European Mariner spending the night dodging the rough weather at sea to allow the European Causeway use of the berth.  The European Causeway made a light ship positioning voyage back to Cairnryan at 0400 in order to pick up her scheduled 0730 sailing from Cairnryan.  This special voyage offered the site of once again seeing both Cairnryan twins together in Larne for a few hours on 2/10/05.