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December 2007

The former Tipperary, which used to operate on the former B&I Line/Pandoro joint Irish Sea ro-ro service looks set to make a return to the port of Larne in 2008.

From built in 1980 until her transfer to the North Sea Ferries fleet in 1988 the Tipperary made a few rare appearances at Larne as relief vessel or in event of Dublin being closed by strikes she would divert to Larne to keep freight moving.  For nearly two decades as the Dutch registered Norcape the ship has been trading in the North Sea, mainly based in Hull.  However, in order to increase capacity out of Larne P&O announced in December 2007 that they plan to transfer the Norcape to the Larne - Troon route in place of European Mariner.

The announced change over is expected to occur in second quarter 2008, subject to the North Sea receiving a similar capacity boost in the form of a chartered vessel to replace Norcape.  Prior to the transfer to Larne, Norcape is to undergo significant refurbishment work including re-plating of the vehicle decks in a similar fashion to the work undertake by P&O a few years ago on their former Fleetwood based fleet.

July 2007

Despite being in good order structurally, long running mechanical problems have forced the former Larne - Stranraer stalwart Darnia off the high seas altogether.

Latterly trading in the Caribbean as Neptunia, the vessel had been laid up seeing little service from November 2006 and was towed out of Fort de France, Martinque on 19/7/07 by the tug Sun London on her way to the breakers.  Tug and tow crossed the Atlantic and the former Darnia eventually ended up under the cutting torch of Turkish ship breakers on the beach at Aliaga.

Recently reported operating in Neptunia's last stomping ground in the Caribbean is former Larne - Fleetwood charter vessel Sea Runner.

April 2007

The former ro-ro ship Cerdic Ferry, which worked from Larne on the Larne - Preston and Larne - Cairnryan routes from the 1960s to the 1980s went to Turkish ship breakers in April.

The Cerdic Ferry was built at Ailsa's yard in Troon in 1962 as the second generation of ships of purpose designed and built ro-ro ships for the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company.  She and her fleet companions were among the first of their kind in UK waters, cutting edge design leading where others would ultimately follow.  Although primarily based on the ASN routes across the southern region of the North Sea, Cerdic Ferry spent many periods at Larne working the ASN route to Preston from Larne as well as Belfast.  Later, under Townsend Thoresen managers she would also appear on their Larne - Cairnryan service, which replaced the Preston route in 1973.

Sold from the Townsend Thoresen fleet in 1981 Cerdic Ferry had a long career in Adriatic waters and was rebuilt to carry more passengers.  Now after several long years spent laid up at Bari, Italy under her final name Orestes she has passed to Turkish ship breakers bringing to the end a 47 year career.

Photos available on faktaomfartyg here: http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/cerdic_ferry_1961.htm

Antrim Princess Finally Goes to the Breakers

24th February 2007

The 1967 built former Larne - Stranraer ferry Antrim Princess was finally reported on the 11/2/07 to have met her fate on the beaches at Alang, India.  The vessel had been sold for scrapping in April 2006 but remained laid up at Naples for several months prior to recently making her last voyage to the breaker's yard.  The ship was renamed Stella for her final journey after a long career, firstly in the Irish Sea on the Larne - Stranraer route with Sealink and later on the Douglas - Heysham service for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company prior to her being sold to the warmer waters of the Mediterranean in 1990 where she spent the remainder of her working life.

Jetliner Goes to War

8th February 2007

Former Larne - Cairnryan fast craft Jetliner has appeared in a more hostile arena than she was used to in her days on the North Channel.  Now serving as a transport ship in the Sri Lankan navy, the craft has been instrumental in ferrying civilians and troops between the north of Sri Lanka and the south.  This avoids an area that is embroiled in turmoil as a result of guerilla fighting which has closed the main north-south road running along the island from August 2006.

In August last year Jetliner was attacked by mortars when transporting troops from Jaffna in the north to Trincomalee in the south resulting in the death of 4 of her crew and injuries to 30 others.  More recently during January and February this year she has safely transported many thousands of Tamil civilians trapped in the north of the country by the fighting.

Links to some relevant news stories:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/aug2006/sril-a02_prn.shtml
http://www.defence.lk/main_new.asp?fname=news
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070201_12
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070208_10
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/news/print.php?id=4031

Thanks to Gary Andrews for passing on the links.

An Old Favourite Continues

30th January 2007

Soaking up the sunshine in Martinique in December 2006 when Larne Ferry Web reader Matt Sudders paid a visit was none other than the Neptunia, formerly the Larne - Stranraer vessel Darnia.  She is still going strong in this her 30th year since being completed in May 1977.  The vessel lost sister ship Ajman to the breakers in 2004, this ship being better known in Larne around the late 1970's and early 1980's as Pandoro's Jaguar as well as serving on charter to Sealink for the Stranraer route as Stena Timer.   Both the former Darnia and her remaining sister ship, the former  European Navigator, now trading in the Red Sea as Black Iris, remain in front line service for their current owners.