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31st December 2006

The five vessel in service from the port of Larne spent the period between Christmas and New Year on seasonal timetables with some rather unusual movements dictated by the seasonal traffic flows.

On Stena Line's Larne - Fleetwood service sailings after Christmas recommenced with Stena Pioneer's 0700 ex Fleetwood on the 27/12/06.  This was with a cargo of unaccompanied freight that was loaded onto the ship at Fleetwood on Christmas Eve, remaining onboard over the two day Christmas suspension in service.  Stena Seafarer recommenced her sailings again with an 0900 departure from Larne on the 27/12/06.  Third ship, Stena Leader remains in dry dock at Birkenhead.

Both Seafarer and Pioneer provided their normal 2200 sailings on the 27/12/06 while on the 28/12/06 no day light departure was provided from either Fleetwood or Larne with only a single sailing at 2200 being given by each vessel.  On the arrival at Larne of her 2200 sailing ex Fleetwood on the morning of the 29/12/06 Stena Pioneer failed to berth at the port on her first attempt due to gales and went back to sea again to await a moderation.  She berthed later on that day and sailed for Fleetwood as soon as she was reloaded.  Stena Seafarer arrived with her own 1000 ex Fleetwood following the Pioneer's departure and sailed for Fleetwood at 2230.

Stena Pioneer finished her own sailings prior to the New Year on the 30/12/06.  She berthed at Larne at 1630 discharged and reloaded unaccompanied freight prior to shifting to Curran Quay at 2100.   Stena Seafarer completed sailings with her 2200 ex Fleetwood on the 30/12/06.  This berthed in Larne at 0600 on the 31/12/06 and commenced lay up at Continental Quay.

P&O's Larne - Troon freight service operated by European Mariner had a quiet week between Christmas and New Year with only one sailing scheduled to operate.  This was the 1900 ex Larne on the 28/12/06 and corresponding 0230 return from Troon the following morning.  She may have had only one sailing rostered but it was a lively trip back to Larne for European Mariner on the 29/12/06 as the same gales that prevented Stena Pioneer from berthing in Larne that day also sent European Mariner to shelter in Belfast Lough for a period to await a moderation in conditions.

The Larne - Cairnryan route served by European Causeway and European Highlander had a busy week with passenger and car trade adding substantially to the usual freight loadings.  European Causeway lost the starboard section of her cow catcher in heavy seas on the 29/12/06 while further gales on Sunday the 31/12/06 delayed the route's final sailings of 2006.  After having operated an extra service at 1030 on the 31/12/06 the European Highlander was set to make the last scheduled inbound trip to Larne of 2006 with the 1630 ex Cairnryan while European Causeway was scheduled to operate the final sailing ex Larne at 1630.  Strong gales delayed both ships' final departures but it was European Highlander which managed to fight her way out of port first and she arrived off Larne at around 2000 berthing just before 2100 after European Causeway braved the winter for the last time in 2006 and cast off from Larne at 2015.

The following table shows the status of the Larne ferries into the new year 2007.

25th December 2006

The six Larne based ferries all took time out at Christmas for a well earned break after a busy few weeks.

Stena Line's Larne to Fleetwood service dropped to two ships from its normal three ship service on the 20/12/06 when Stena Leader stood down to go to annual overhaul.  The ship sailed from Larne for the last time on the 20/12/06 at 1030 and once she discharged her cargo in Fleetwood that evening she left for Birkenhead, arriving at dry dock on the morning of the 21/12/06 at 1030.

However, with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps this was not the best time to withdraw Stena Leader as in the preceding week competitor Norfolk Line also temporarily lost the service of two of their chartered Heysham based freight ships Merchant Bravery and Merchant Brilliant when both were detained.  Merchant Brilliant was detained in Dublin by the high court over non-payment of wages to the crew while Merchant Bravery was later detained in Belfast by the inspection authorities after she suffered a breakdown.  With 3 ferries running from Lancashire ports out of service at the same time this put extra traffic on the remaining ships.  Stena Seafarer and Stena Pioneer both working the Larne - Fleetwood service in Stena Leader's absence subsequently missed tides at Fleetwood after large cargoes extended turn round times.  Seafarer missed early on the 20/12/06 and Pioneer missed on the morning of the 21/12/06.  

Both Fleetwood vessels stood down for Christmas on the morning of the 24/12/06 after their overnight sailings.  The Stena Pioneer spending Christmas at Fleetwood and Stena Seafarer stopping over the festive season at Continental Quay Larne, the first time in a number of years that Larne has the pleasure of hosting Stena Seafarer at Christmas.

European Causeway and European Highlander also felt the strain of extra cargo in the run up to Christmas on the Cairnryan service, with their usual busy freight loadings augmented by a sharp peak in passenger and car traffic.  Extra sailings at 1030 and 1330 instead of the single 1300 service were operated on the two Sundays preceding Christmas, the 17/12/06 and 24/12/06.  Both ships completed sailings for Christmas with their respective 1630 sailings on Christmas Eve.  European Highlander spending Christmas at Larne and European Causeway at Cairnryan.

European Mariner closed the Larne - Troon freight service for Christmas with the 0230 ex Troon on the 23/12/06.  She spent the festive season at her usual Curran Quay berth in Larne.

Summary table of Larne ferries last sailing details and lay up locations for Christmas 2006.

Cairnryan Port Inquiry Completed

20th December 2006

The public inquiry into the proposed redevelopment work at Cairnryan harbour was completed on the 14/12/06 after sitting for a total of 7 and a half days out of the 24 days originally scheduled.  

The report on the inquiry's findings is due to be submitted early in the New Year to the Scottish Executive.  Based on the report's findings, the Executive will make a ruling on whether to grant a Harbour Empowerment Order to allow the extension to the harbour to take place.

17th December 2006

Gales on the Irish Sea along with a few technical problems continued to disrupt Stena Line's Larne - Fleetwood route schedules over the past week.

After the last lot of gales the service had returned to some sort of normal running on the 5/12/06 but it didn't last for long as over the following few days all vessels had gradually built up delays of a few hours each thanks to the continuing gales and a technical problem on Stena Pioneer, which delayed her for around 2 hours at Fleetwood on the evening of the 5/12/06.  This cumulated on the 7/12/06 in the Stena Seafarer stepping out of sequence for a trip to avoid vessel congestion at Fleetwood as the Seafarer was running very close behind the Pioneer and the Leader was in turn chasing hard on the heels of the Seafarer.  Stena Seafarer loaded unaccompanied freight at Larne on the evening of the 7/12/06 prior to leaving port for anchor at 2210 off the northern harbour limits to allow the Stena Leader access.  The 'Seafarer lifted anchor the following morning at 0630 and proceeded to Fleetwood now 2 and a half hours behind Stena Leader rather than preceding her as is the norm.

Over the weekend of the 9th - 10th of December Stena Pioneer by now had accumulated delays which put her on the usual slot of Stena Seafarer.  The 'Pioneer missed a trip on the 9/12/06 and underwent some routine weekend maintenance work at Larne prior to getting back on schedule with her usual sailing in the morning from Larne on the 10/12/06.  Also on the 10/12/06, Stena Seafarer worked her way back on to her own schedule after a few days taking the morning sailing from Larne in place of the 'Pioneer.  She delayed her usual 1600 service from Larne until 1800 as both Stena Pioneer and the Stena Leader were falling behind schedule battling heavy seas off the Isle of Man.  Stena Leader made it to Larne that evening at 2100 but her return sailing to Fleetwood was cancelled after some generator problems onboard.  This was rectified for the following morning with the 'Leader loading cargo and sailing at 1000 to Fleetwood.  The same ship also succumbed to more generator trouble on the evening of the 13/12/06 which delayed her departure from Larne by a couple of hours.  

The weather finally settled down  late on the 14/12/06 and over the following weekend of the 16th and 17th of December the ships were put back on schedule with some preplanned lay over periods at Larne.  For the final week before Christmas the Stena Pioneer and Stena Leader will operate the opposite roster to normal; Stena Pioneer sailing at 2200 from Larne and Stena Leader sailing at 1000.

P&O sailings to Cairnryan managed to avoid serious disruption in the past week but they did operate an extra sailing on the morning of Sunday the 17/12/06.  Ships sailed at 1030 and 1330 from either port instead of the single Sunday morning service at 1300.  This puts the two Cairnryan ships back on their usual sailing cycle after the gales at the end of November had disrupted them.

P&O's freight service to Troon missed one round sailing on the 12/12/06 due to technical problems with European Mariner.  The ship was loaded ready to sail with her 1900 service to Troon when the problem occurred.  Cargo remained aboard the vessel with a view to sailing when the technical problem was resolved but by the following morning she still hadn't sailed so the trailers were discharged from the ship and transferred via Cairnryan.  Repairs continued throughout the day enabling the 'Mariner to return to service on the evening of the 13/12/06 with her regular 1900 Troon sailing.

5th December 2006

Southerly gales over a 4 day spell beginning on the 30/11/06 caused major havoc with the ferry schedules from the port of Larne.

Worst hit was the Larne - Fleetwood service, which was only just getting back to normal after the westerly gales at the end of the previous week.  Stena Pioneer on arrival at Larne at 0630 on the morning of the 30/11/06 failed to berth due to gales in the harbour gusting in excess of 50 knots and heavy seas inside the port helped on by an extremely high tide.  She turned and went back to sea waiting off Larne for a moderation in conditions.  She did get into port at 0950 to discharge her cargo and reload but by the time she set out for Fleetwood at 1330 she was too far behind schedule to make the tide.

After the departure of Stena Pioneer on the 30/11/06 Stena Seafarer made it to Larne with her inbound 0300 ex Fleetwood sailing at 1440.  She discharged and reloaded unaccompanied freight putting back to sea at 1900.  With Stena Pioneer delayed and waiting on the tide off Fleetwood the Stena Seafarer anchored off Larne and didn't leave the area until 0700 the following morning when a free berthing slot became available at Fleetwood.  The 'Seafarer effectively took up the Stena Pioneer's run for the next day or two after the 'Pioneer had fallen behind schedule when she missed the tide.

Following Stena Seafarer, the Stena Leader berthed at Larne at 2000 on the 30/11/06.  She discharged, reloaded and sailed at 0025, passing the 'Seafarer at anchor off Larne.

The 1/12/06 provided some respite for the ships as conditions moderated somewhat but more was to come on the afternoon of the 2/12/06.  Stena Pioneer, still running behind after missing the tide on the 30/11/06, made it to Larne on the afternoon of the 2/12/06 at 1715.  With winds picking up she reloaded unaccompanied freight and left Larne at 2020 but didn't get far as the conditions were so bad that she sailed for shelter in Belfast Lough.  Following along behind was Stena Leader which arrived at Larne at 2100, she also reloaded unaccompanied freight and sat alongside Continental Quay until 0645 the next day, she ended up joining Stena Pioneer sheltering in Belfast Lough.  By the evening both ships had made it to shelter off the NE coast of the Isle of Man and it wasn't until the 4/12/06 that the Stena Pioneer made it to Fleetwood.

On the morning of the 3/12/06 Stena Seafarer made it into Larne at 0715 with the 2200 ex Fleetwood after having battled her way through the gales and heavy seas during the night on her way north.  She also back loaded unaccompanied freight like the other two ships but remained alongside not departing Larne until 1020 on the 4/12/06, there being no point in going to sea when the other two vessels had to make it into Fleetwood first.

By the 5/12/06 services began to return to normal until the next gale.

Larne - Troon freight sailings by European Mariner also suffered some cancellations and severe delays.  She was almost 4 hours late arriving on the morning of the 30/11/06 due to the weather and whilst she was loaded that evening to depart at 1900 she delayed her departure until 0400 the next day when conditions had moderated.  That evening she made it back to Larne at 1615 and sailed again on schedule at 1900.  On Saturday the 2/12/06 she berthed on Curran Quay at 0650 and commenced weekend lay up on that berth, her sailing on Sunday the 3/12/06 at 1900 was cancelled due to adverse weather and it wasn't until her 1900 sailing on the 4/12/06 when she returned to service.

Cairnryan sailings continued to operate throughout the period of inclement weather but vehicle deck space was at a premium as a number of Stena's Belfast - Stranraer sailings were cancelled on the 30/11/06 and again on the 3/12/06 due to adverse weather.  With the large loads on offer requiring extra lashings to be applied to cater for the poor weather turn round times were extended causing the ships to fall behind schedule and by the 1/12/06 both ships had settled down 1 trip behind schedule, sailing on the opposite roster to usual.  They continued on the wrong roster into the next week.

Cairnryan Port Development Public Inquiry Opens

30th November 2006

The public inquiry into the proposed enlargement of Cairnryan port to accommodate Stena Line's service from Belfast - Stranraer route got underway on the 30/11/06 in the community hall in the village.  

Scheduled to last until early January 2007, the inquiry will hear submissions from expert witnesses involved in the project and will provide a forum for opponents of the proposed development to ask questions.  Once the inquiry is over and subject to a ruling by the Scottish Executive approving the proposed development work, the project will be granted a Harbour Empowerment Order allowing the building work to proceed.

Looking back through the Larne Ferry Web archive, the proposed development work at Cairnryan was first announced in May 2003.  Its doubtful anyone involved would have thought things would have taken quite this long to get this far.  Also surprisingly Stena's proposed new terminal at Belfast has not been started yet and this has no known publicly announced opposition to its development.

Coaster Calls

28th November 2006

Coastal cargo vessel Alexandra S arrived at Larne at 1300 on the 24/11/06 with a cargo of limestone chippings.  Discharge commenced after the weekend had passed on the 27/11/06 and was completed in time for the ship to leave the next day at 1600 bound for Troon to pick up her next cargo.  Local tug Sarah McLoughlin assisted on pilot boat duties on both the inward and outward passages of the coaster.

23rd November 2006

The latest ferry news from the port of Larne has been dominated by the prolonged period of gales that has caused disruption to sailings.

Larne - Fleetwood sailings operated by Stena Line have been most effected with all three vessels having to miss sailings to regain schedule.  Strong westerly winds in the middle of the Irish Sea caused some lengthy sailings as ships were weather routed along the Irish coast in order to protect the cargo from damage.

P&O sailings between Larne and Cairnryan were also hit by gales and European Highlander felt just what a wind tossed Irish Sea can generate when she was hit by a freak wave on her 0730 sailing from Cairnryan to Larne on the 21/11/06.  The wave damaged the starboard section of her forward cow-catcher and when she got into Larne at the conclusion of that sailing loose sections of the steel work were removed by the local engineering contractors.  This operation was carried out alongside at MacKean Quay using workboat Noleen McLoughlin and resulted in a two and a half hour delay to the European Highlander's schedules.  Sister ship European Causeway was also delayed by 1 hour as the time Highlander spent getting her damaged cowcatcher removed the Causeway had caught up on European Highlander. 

Both Cairnryan ships were to be hard pressed for the rest of the day as Belfast - Stranraer sailings by Stena Line were cancelled due to adverse weather resulting in extra traffic for the Larne - Cairnryan route.  Both ships had recovered all lost time by the following morning.

European Mariner's sailings on the Larne - Troon freight route also suffered severe delays both due to the weather and from a technical problem which prevented her sailing from Larne on the 19/11/06 for 3 hours.  She battled on enduring some heavy weather which resulted in round trips in excess of 20 hours instead of the usual 12 hours.

13th November 2006

Ballylumford Power Station received two diesel oil deliveries in recent days brought in by coastal tankers of the Fisher fleet.

First to arrive was Shannon Fisher on the 3/11/06.  She berthed at the A jetty at 0840 on arrival from Milford Haven, departing again at 1730 once discharge was completed.  Following her on the 13/11/06 was fleet mate Milford Fisher, which arrived from Milford Haven at 1500, sailing later that evening after discharge at 2315.

Below are a few pictures showing Milford Fisher's arrival on 13/11/06.

Rough Weather Delays Sailings

31st October 2006

A day of north westerly gales on the 31/10/06 caused some severe weather delays to Larne based ferries with the winds making berthing conditions in the harbour extremely difficult.  Stena Seafarer, European Causeway and European Mariner all spent periods waiting off the port limits as the gales prevented berthing.

At 1230, European Causeway failed in her first attempt to berth at Larne at the conclusion of her 1030 sailing from Cairnryan.  She put back to sea and made a second attempt to enter the harbour at 1335.  Assisted by tugs Sarah McLoughlin and Noleen McLoughlin it took European Causeway over 30 minutes fighting against the off shore wind before she made it alongside her berth.

The European Causeway's 1330 sailing from Larne subsequently ran late as a result, not getting away until 1530.  By this time however the wind speed was easing down and the 2 hour delay was recovered by the next day.

Stena Seafarer attempted to berth at Continental Quay after the 'Causeway's failed attempt at 1300 with the two tugs assisting.  She also failed to berth at this time and was forced to put to sea again.  She made her second attempt to enter at 1830 and this time made it alongside successfully.  The 'Seafarer turned round and sailed to Fleetwood with her regular 1600 sailing from Larne at 2100.  She made up all the lost time extremely quickly and her 1600 sailing from Larne the next day departed on time.

The following vessel, Stena Leader faced the full fury of the gale during her passage north with her 1000 service from Fleetwood and didn't get to Larne until 2350.  She didn't quite regain schedule as quickly as Stena Seafarer, taking until the evening of the 4/11/06 before she got back onto her normal schedule.

European Mariner appeared off the port with her 0230 sailing from Troon at 1430, she remained outside the port awaiting conditions to moderate and berthed on Curran Quay at 2000.  She discharged and reloaded for Troon, departing with her normal 1900 sailing at 2245.  Thanks to her regular daily lay up in Larne she picked up all lost time and her 1900 to Troon the following day departed on time.

Pictured below are a few shots taken on 31/10/06 showing the Larne ships battling hard against the high winds.

23rd October 2006

Coastal tanker Galway Fisher arrived at Ballylumford A jetty on the 23/10/06 at 0845 with a cargo of diesel oil for the power station.  The tanker arrived from Milford Haven and was escorted into port by pilot boat Sarah McLoughlin.

Discharge of the oil cargo was completed at 1600 and the vessel sailed at 1700 bound for Milford Haven.  She was assisted in her swing off the jetty by Sarah McLoughlin which also collected the pilot once the tanker cleared number 1 buoy outward.

European Mariner on Windmill Duty

22nd October 2006

Since her return from damage repairs European Mariner has been kept busy with her regular weekend windmill charter work.  Over the weekend of 21st-22nd October she completed another cargo run, importing six of the extra long trailers loaded with windmill towers into Larne. 

European Mariner sailed from Larne at 0955 on the 21/10/06 to load in Campbeltown once she discharged from her inbound Troon freight sailing.  She carried  a number of flat bed trailers on this outward journey, some of which were loaded with concrete blocks.  The vessel spent the night in Campbeltown and returned to Larne at 1610 on the 22/10/06 with the windmill parts.  These loads were discharged and the ship back loaded freight for Troon, sailing slightly later than scheduled at 1920.

17th October 2006

Stena Seafarer slotted into the usual Larne - Fleetwood schedule of Stena Pioneer to allow her fleet mate to undergo some planned maintenance work on her engines over a four day period.  The Stena Pioneer completed service on the 14/10/06 and laid up in Larne on Curran Quay after her arrival from Fleetwood at 0855, Stena Seafarer subsequently took over the 'Pioneer's run departing at 1330 later that afternoon.

Stena Seafarer remained on the 'Pioneer's roster until the morning arrival from Fleetwood on the 17/10/06.  The ships changed over at Larne that morning with Stena Pioneer departing at 1040 on her run and Stena Seafarer following at 1535 re-introduced on her own roster again after it was cancelled for three days while she was busy covering for the 'Pioneer.

For the record the following sailings normally operated by Stena Seafarer were cancelled while she was operating the schedule of the Stena Pioneer:

15/10/06: 1600 ex Larne
16/10/06: 0300 ex Fleetwood, 1600 ex Larne
17/10/06: 0300 ex Fleetwood; 'Seafarer subsequently reintroduced to roster at 1535 17/10/06

Mariner Returns to the Fray

16th October 2006

Freight vessel European Mariner brushed aside her recent ills and returned to full service again on the Larne to Troon freight route on the 16/10/06, the route being closed since the 0230 sailing ex Troon on the 2/8/06.

The ship had been out of service to undergo repairs to damage caused after she collided with a steel piled perch at Troon harbour while attempting to berth at the Ayrshire port in the early hours of the 3/8/06.  The main repair work centred around fixing her damaged starboard propeller shaft, the work being carried out by Birkenhead based North Western Ship Repair.

After a lengthy spell in dry dock at Birkenhead European Mariner was moved into the wet basin facility at the yard on the afternoon of the 13/10/06.  She departed the wet basin two days later on the 15/10/06 around 1800 bound first for Campbeltown where she arrived on the 16/10/06 to pick up a windmill cargo for Troon.  She returned to Larne at 1825 that evening and re-entered service on the Troon freight route sailing at 2010 from Chaine Quay (Stena Pioneer was undergoing maintenance work at her usual berth on Curran Quay).

9th October 2006

Fleetwood freight ferry Stena Seafarer took time out from her duties on the Larne service over the period 7/10/06 to the 9/10/06 so she could provide relief cover on the Belfast to Stranraer route. 

The ship temporarily finished Fleetwood operations once she had completed discharging in Larne from the 0300 ex Fleetwood service on the 7/10/06.  Stena Seafarer then left for Belfast at 1350 and took up sailings to Stranraer with the 1900 service from Belfast operating a two ship service alongside the former Larne - Stranraer legend Stena Caledonia.

The vessel remained on the Stranraer route all weekend to cover a maintenance lay up for HSS fast craft Stena Voyager, which was out of service at Harland and Wolff's Ship Repair Quay in Belfast after completing her 0455 sailing from Stranraer on the 7/10/05.

Fast craft operations recommenced on the Belfast - Stranraer route on the 9/10/06 when Stena Voyager sailed from Belfast at 1730 to Stranraer.  Stena Seafarer had earlier stood down from the Stranraer route in order to return to service on the Fleetwood route and she re-entered service with the 1600 sailing from Larne on the 9/10/06.  The Larne - Fleetwood service lost two sailings due to the absence of the 'Seafarer - the 1600 ex Larne on 8/10/06 and 0300 ex Fleetwood on the 9/10/06.

For the record, Stranraer sailings operated by Stena Seafarer were:

7/10/06:
1900 ex Belfast

8/10/06:
0100 ex Stranraer
0730 ex Belfast
1300 ex Stranraer
1900 ex Belfast

9/10/06:
0100 ex Stranraer
After discharging in Belfast proceeded light to Larne arriving on Curran Quay at 1000.  Re-entered Larne - Fleetwood service with the 1600 sailing to Fleetwood.

Fuel Oil Tanker at Ballylumford

8th October 2006

Ballylumford Power Station took delivery of a fuel oil cargo from the tanker, Alia, which arrived at the station's B jetty at 1210 on the 7/10/06. 

Alia arrived at the anchorage site in Belfast Lough during the afternoon of the 6/10/06 and was forced to miss the next high tide later on that evening as her allocated tugs, Svitzer Marine's Belfast based tugs Willowgarth and Norton Cross, were busy with a job in Belfast at the same time.

With her tugs available for the following high tide at 1140 on the 7/10/06, the local pilot was boarded in Belfast Lough at around 1000 using Maria McLoughlin.  Norton Cross hooked on at Alia's bow and Willowgarth to her stern just outside the approach channel to Larne and they both assisted the tanker into the jetty where she was all fast at 1210.  Line running at the berth was carried out by Noleen McLoughlin and David F.

With discharge complete, Alia departed Ballylumford at 2020 on the 8/10/06.  Norton Cross and Willowgarth again provided tug power to assist the tanker off the berth.  Sarah McLoughlin then returned the pilot to shore once the tanker had cleared the channel outward.

Alia's Facts and Figures from www.equasis.org

IMO number: 9259903
Gross tonnage: 23676
Year of build: 2003
Flag: Liberia
Registered owner: MARCO POLO SEATRADE Address: NETHERLANDS
Ship manager: SEAARLAND MANAGEMENT, Delflandlaan, Amsterdam NETHERLANDS
 

8th October 2006

Stena Leader was delayed after one of the vessel's crew was injured during cargo operations.  The ship was prevented from leaving Fleetwood for around 4 hours with her 1000 sailing to Larne on the 4/10/06 to allow the injured crew member to be treated and subsequently taken to hospital.  The ship arrived in Larne that evening at 2215 instead of the usual 1800 and was turned round to depart at 0200 on the 5/10/06.  With the ship heavily booked for the next few days there was virtually no opportunity to shave time on turn rounds at either port and the ship remained around 4 hours late until Monday 9/10/06 when she caught up on lost time with a quick turn round at Fleetwood in the morning and at Larne that evening.

Express Delivers a Positive 2006

5th October 2006

P&O fast craft Express completed her summer service on the Larne - Troon and Larne - Cairnryan routes with the 2020 sailing ex Troon on the 2/10/06 under the command of Captain Stohlberger.

Looking back at the LFW archive, the ship had an even better year reliability wise in 2006 compared to 2005 with the number of sailings cancelled due to technical failures reduced.  It will be interesting to see if her traffic figures report a similar positive performance to the reliability record.

After completion of her summer season the craft remained at Larne loading stores and other essential items required by the ship's technical staff to carry out overhaul work during her winter lay up.  With the appropriate gear loaded, the ship left Larne for the last time in 2006 at 0850 on the 5/10/06 bound for Belfast, commanded on this occasion by Captain Val Plant.  She berthed at Donegall Quay later that morning for lay up until her dry docking, which is scheduled for February 2007.