|
Easter Sailing Alterations
25th March 2008 Sailings from Larne were altered slightly due to the Easter holidays to take account of the drop in freight traffic but significant boost in tourist car traffic over the holiday period. Cairnryan services operated to normal schedule with no breaks, however there were some bad weather cancellations of fast craft Express. The vessel missed her Cairnryan trips on 22/3/08, 23/3/08 and 24/3/08 (diverted to Troon) all due to bad weather. Traffic was diverted to European causeway and European Highlander. Express also cancelled a number of Troon voyages, apart from the trips detailled in the next story from the 23/3 Express missed the following round trips to Troon because of bad weather: 23/3 1730 ex Larne; 24/3 1255 to Cairnryan diverted to Troon with 1730 that day cancelled. The 0715 to Troon on the 25/3 was missed due to technical problems. European Mariner finished sailings for Easter on the Troon freight route when she arrived at 1800 on 22/3 with a weather delayed 0230 ex Troon. She rested at Curran Quay not sailing again until the 1900 ex Larne on the 25/3/08. Fleetwood service dropped down to a 2 ship service on the 22/3 when Stena Seafarer left to spend Easter laid up at Belfast. She returned to service with the 1600 ex Larne on the 24/3/08 |
|
|
Bad Weather Delays 22nd March 2008 Northerly gales in excess of 50 knots caused widespread havoc with ferry schedules from the port of Larne in the busy run up to Easter. Worst effected was fast craft Express, which had her Cairnryan sailings on the 19/3 and 20/3 cancelled due to bad weather. Her 1730 Troon sailing on the 20/3 left Larne at 1700 and did not reach Troon until 0400 on 21/3 when the vessel was forced to seek shelter off Arran while the port of Troon was lashed with winds in excess of 50 knots. The ship did not leave Troon until 0950 on the 22/3, arriving in Larne at 1215, with all sailings for the remainder of the day being cancelled. The ship returned to service with the 0715 from Larne on the 24/3. Traffic disrupted by the cancellation of the fast craft was accommodated on the Cairnryan route’s conventional ferries. Both European Causeway and European Highlander were groaning under the weight of the extra tourist traffic on offer but managed to keep operating despite the heavy loadings and the bad weather. European Causeway was ably assisted on a few occasions by port tug Maria McLoughlin as northerly gales made conditions for berthing in Larne somewhat testing. Both of the twins lost time on the 21/3 but managed to make it up again during the early hours of the 22/3. European Mariner kept her freight services to Troon operating even through the worst of the weather. She made it into Troon on the morning of the 21/3 and returned to Larne more or less on schedule. With Express storm bound in Troon all day on the 21/3, European Mariner loaded in Larne for her usual 1900 sailing that evening but remained in port until 0610 the following morning when word was given that the Express would be able to sail on the morning of the 22/3 and thus the berth would be available for the freighter when she made it to Troon at lunch time. The ‘Mariner returned to Larne at 1800 on the 22/3 and berthed at Curran Quay. After discharging she commenced her Easter lay up until Tuesday 25/3. Stena Line’s Fleetwood service suffered some disruption also mainly as a result of their exposed berth at Continental Quay making berthing difficult in the northerly winds. All three ships were running late but worst affected was Stena Leader, which could only remain alongside for about 1 hour on arrival at Larne late on the 21/3. The vessel discharged cars and running freight and put to sea shortly before 0100 on the 22/3 with unaccompanied cargo still aboard. The ship ranged about to the north of the port until 0800 that morning when she berthed at Curran Quay to discharge the rest of the cargo on board. The ship returned to schedule that evening sailing at 2045 to Fleetwood after having earlier shifted up to Continental quay to load at 1600. The Stena Seafarer, which had ended up running the Stena Leader’s schedule, arrived at Larne at 2115 discharged and left for Belfast for Easter lay up at 2215. |
|
|
 |
| Express returns to Larne on 22/3/08 after a marathon 2 day round trip to Troon. Photo: Larne Ferry web (click to enlarge) | European Causeway brings home the 1030 ex Cairnryan in a fresh northerly gale on 22/3/08. Photo: Larne Ferry web (click to enlarge) |
|
 |
| Stena Pioneer takes the a weather delayed 1000 to Fleetwood out of Larne at 1415 on 22/3/08. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | European Mariner arrives at Larne at 1800 with a weather delayed 0230 ex Troon on 22/3/08. Photo: Larne Ferry web (click to enlarge) |
|
Express Returns to Service 14th March 2008 Fast craft Express returned to service for the summer season on the North Channel routes from Larne to Cairnryan and Troon on the 14/3/08 with her first sailing, the 0715 to Troon. Her first day sailing was not without incident when the afternoon Cairnryan sailing was cancelled due to technical problems. The vessel had made her way round to Larne on the 9/3/08 from her refit at Belfast under the care of Harland and Wolff. The vessel left dry dock on the 28/2 for trials and berthed at Donegall Quay at approx 1845 that evening. She underwent her annual MES deployment alongside Donegall Quay on the 1/3/08.
|
|
|
 |
| Express departing Donegall Quay after refit and lay up returning to Larne on 9/3/08. On left photo she passes Stena Pioneer laid up for repairs at Albert Quay. Photos: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | |
|
 |
| Express arriving back in Larne passing European Highlander outward with the 1300 to Cairnryan on 9/3/08. Photos: The Boatman (click to enlarge) | |
|
Coaster Calls 13th March 2008 Coaster Doris T made a visit to Larne on the 12/3/08 with a cargo of silver sand from Lochaline. The ship missed the tide due to bad weather and was forced to wait outside until the next tide finally berthing at Olderfleet Quay at 1500. She discharged her cargo the following day 13/3 and sailed back to Lochaline that evening at 1900.
|
|
|
Doris T departing Larne after discharging silver sand on 13/3/08. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) |
|
Stena Pioneer Breakdown 10th March 2008 Stena Pioneer suffered a bow thruster failure on Saturday the 8/3 and on arrival at Larne at 1020 the vessel was assisted onto her berth at Continental Quay by port tugs Noleen McLoughlin and Maria McLoughlin. The vessel discharged and left at 1615 for repairs at Belfast, arriving at Stena Line’s lay up berth at the Albert Quay at 1830 assisted by Belfast’s tugs Carron and Norton Cross. The vessel had divers down inspecting bow thrusters while at Larne on the 13/2. Stena Pioneer remained out of service until Monday 10/3 carrying out repairs. She left Belfast at 1230 arriving at Larne at 1510. She loaded and sailed back to Fleetwood at 2015. High winds had been playing havoc with the schedules of the other two Fleetwood ships on the 8/3 when the Pioneer was withdrawn from service there was only one departure to Fleetwood from Larne by Stena Seafarer at 2330. Stena Leader missed the tide in Fleetwood that day on arrival off the port at 0800 while waiting on Stena Seafarer to sail. She didn’t berth until 2100 that evening sailing to Larne at 0115 on the 9/3. Timings in Larne over the next few days were as follows: On their respective passages to Fleetwood both Stena Leader and Stena Pioneer weather routed south along the Irish coast and sought shelter in Dundalk Bay from the high seas on the 12/3. Stena Seafarer departed Fleetwood at 0001 on the 12/3 and went for shelter off the east of the Isle of Man for 6 hours prior to making a run for Larne at approx 1230. The Pioneer turned east for Fleetwood at 2130 followed by Stena Leader at 0500 on the 13/3. the ships shuffled back onto their usual rosters the following weekend as follows: 12/3 Seafarer arr 1715 |
|
|
|
|
| Two views of Stena Pioneer arriving at Belfast. Photos Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | |
|
 |
| Carron (left) and Norton Cross (right) assisting Stena Pioneer at Belfast on 8/3/08. Photos: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | |
|
The Fleetwood ships weren’t the only ones feeling the waves, on the 10/3 the European Mariner, which had sailed from Larne at 1730 on the 9/3 to try and get ahead of the forecasted bad weather due on the 10/3 arrived at Larne at 0530 and could not swing inside the harbour due to the gales. She moored bow in at Curran Quay, swinging round stern first to the loading ramp at 1645 that afternoon to discharge her freight. She resumed sailing at 1850 that evening to Troon but missed her 1900 service the following night due to bad weather. The freight ship returned to schedule with the 1900 to Troon on Wednesday 12/3. Cairnryan ships were also badly disrupted due to gales on the evening of the 11/3 and morning of the 12/3, service was suspended after the European Highlander docked in Larne at approx 0300 on the 12/3 and she did not sail again until 1100 that morning. Both vessels sailed a shuttle service to clear cargo until the following morning of the 13/3 when they got back to timetable with the 1030 departures from either port. The delay had the consequence of putting both ships back on the correct rosters after previous bad weather had knocked them off their normal rosters.
|
|
|
 |
|
Left Stena Leader departs at 1300 to Fleetwood followed by European Highlander taking the 1300 to Cairnryan. Photos: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) |
|
|
Bad Weather Disruption 3rd March 2008 Bad weather over the weekend 29th February to 3rd March caused some severe disruption to all the ferry services from the port of Larne. Stena Line’s Larne – Fleetwood service had some lengthy sailing times as vessels weather routed along the coast of Northern Ireland and again along the east coast of the Isle of Man in a bid to get out of the worst of the seas kicked up by the south westerly storm force winds. Stena Leader’s sailing ex Larne on the 1/3/08 got away at 0230 and took until approx 1430 to reach Fleetwood. She didn’t make it back to Larne until 0300 on the 2/3/08 and was forced to remain at sea until 0800 that morning as poor weather prevented her making an attempt to enter Larne to berth. Stena Seafarer was also facing difficult weather conditions and had to abort arrival at Larne in the face of 50+kt winds on approach to the port at 2130 on the 1/3/08. She arrived later on at 2245 with assistance of Maria McLoughlin after permission was given for the vessel to use the more sheltered berth at Curran Quay rather than the exposed Continental Quay. Stena Seafarer then bravely spent another day out in terrible weather at sea instead of her usual weekend lay up to allow Stena Leader time to catch up and return to schedule with the 2200 ex Larne on the 2/3/08. Stena Seafarer didn’t get back on track until the 1600 ex Larne on the 3/3/08, forcing Stena to cancel her usual 1600 ex Larne on the 2/3 and corresponding 0300 return from Fleetwood on the 3/3. Stena Pioneer also lost time due to the weather but was able to make it up with some quick turnarounds in both Larne and Fleetwood on the 2/3 and 3/3. European Mariner on the Larne – Troon service also suffered disruption on the 29/2/08. She loaded for her usual 1900 departure from Larne but remained in port awaiting a moderation in the weather. She got away from Larne at 0900 on the 1/3 and returned to Larne again at 2100 that evening. Wind had picked up considerably in the intervening time and the ship used tug Maria McLoughlin to assist arrival at Chaine Quay. After discharge the vessel remained at Chaine Quay for weekend lay up, shifting at 1700 on the 2/3 to load at Curran Quay to recommence her normal timetable with the 1900 to Troon. The Cairnryan twins also had to submit to the weather conditions in the early hours of the 1/3. European Highlander had to wait outside the port for a few hours overnight when she arrived off Larne shortly after midnight due to high winds inside. The vessel didn’t enter the harbour to berth until 0530 that morning, sailing again at 0700, by which time European Causeway had caught up on her and was waiting off Larne for the Highlander to vacate the berth. Both Cairnryan ships were ably assisted by port tug Maria McLoughlin for many of their port calls over the two day spell 29/2/08 to 1/3/08. Normal service was resumed by the afternoon and both ships picked up the timetable again with the 1330 sailings from either port. For the record both vessels remain on the opposite roster from normal. |
|
|
 |
| European Causeway leaves Larne at 1630 on 2/3/08 passing Stena Leader laid up on Continental Quay. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | |
|
Express Completes Refit 1st March 2008 P&O fast craft Express completed her refit and left dry dock at Harland and Wolff on the 28/2/08. She left Belfast on trials direct from dry dock returning to berth at Donegall Quay later on that evening. On the 1st March the vessel had her annual MES deployment alongside at Donegall Quay assisted by work boat Leanne McLoughlin. The craft is due to return to Larne soon in order to make preparations prior to taking up the route to Troon and Cairnryan on the 14/3/08.
|
|
|
 |
| Express undergoing MES deployment at Donegall Quay on 1/3/08 with workboat Leanne McLoughlin in attendance. Photos: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | |
|
Mariner’s Oban Excursion 10th February 2008 European Mariner made a return visit to Oban to collect a consignment of dump trucks. She had visited the port in December last year delivering a number of trucks to the port as transport by road was deemed too costly and impractical. The vessel left Larne at 1000 on the 9/2 for Oban where she arrived at approx 2300. She loaded the dump trucks and brought them to Troon where she discharged them the next morning for onward transport to their destination by road. With her charter work completed, European Mariner left Troon at 1145 for Larne to pick up her schedule with her usual 1900 freight sailing to Troon. |
|
|
 |
| European Mariner departing (left) and returning to Larne (right) after a charter trip to Oban to shift heavy quarry plant into Troon. Photos: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | |
|
Gales Cause Disruption 4th February 2008 Stena Line’s Larne to Fleetwood service, recently returned to full capacity three ship service again with the completion of the dry dock program suffered extensive disruption due to gales during the final few days of January and into the early part of February. On the 31/1 Stena Pioneer made it to Larne at 1115 after a wild crossing, which saw her forward bulwarks getting smashed, in addition to some trailers damaged onboard. The same day on arrival at 1800 Stena Seafarer missed the berth and had to return to sea, she eventually made it alongside Curran Quay with tug assistance at 1920 in a 45 knot westerly gale. Stena Pioneer also missed the berth in high wind a few days later on the 3/2. Stena Leader on her inbound crossing to Larne left Fleetwood at 1715 and only made it to Larne at 1000 on the 1/2 after spending a few hours sheltering off the east of the Isle of Man. This type of course became common over the next number of days as westerly gales persisted and all vessels were taking longer weather routed courses to minimise the risk of cargo damage on passage. It was to be the 5/2 before the ships settled down onto some sort of normal schedule again although the Leader and Pioneer ended up on the opposite roster to normal. This was straightened out over the following weekend 9th and 10th of February. Timings at Larne are as follows: 31/1 Pioneer arr
1115 dep 1730; Seafarer arr 1920 Curran Quay P&O services were also disrupted with the gales. On the Troon freight service European Mariner failed to berth at Troon on the night of the 31/1 at the end of her scheduled 1900 sailing ex Larne. She sheltered off the east coast of Arran to await a moderation in the weather, not making it into berth until 1700 on the 1/2. She left for Larne at 2100 and arrived at 0150. She discharged at Curran Quay and shifted up to Chaine Quay for her normal weekend lay up thus allowing the Fleetwood vessels access to Curran Quay if needed. Cairnryan sailings were suspended for a time because of the weather on the 31/1. Both the ships were losing time as the bad weather coupled with large loads extending turn round times. Stena’s Belfast – Stranraer service was suspended from the morning of the 31/1 adding to the volume of cargo through Larne – Cairnryan. However by the time European Causeway arrived in Larne that evening at 1950 1 hour 20 minutes late the decision was taken to suspend sailings until the weather moderated. These didn’t resume until European Causeway sailed again at 1115 on the 1/2. Both vessels returned to schedule by the morning of the 2/2. |
|
|
 |
|
Maria McLoughlin stands by to assist the arrival of Stena Pioneer at Larne on 31/1/08 |
Stena Pioneer showing weather damage at Larne on 31/1/08 |
|
European Highlander berths at Larne with assistance from Maria McLoughlin on 31/1/08. |
|
Scot Ranger in Trouble off Larne 2nd February 2008 Coastal cargo vessel Scot Ranger, which had left Belfast on the evening of the 1/2/08 got into difficult off Larne harbour when she developed technical problems. The vessel initially asked for permission to enter Larne and effect repair but there was no lay by berth available for the vessel. Belfast tug Willowgarth took Scot Ranger in tow back to Belfast where she underwent repairs at Richardson’s Wharf for a few days prior to continuing her journey.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stena Pioneer departs Larne past the stricken Scot Ranger being assisted by tug Willowgarth on 2/2/08 | Scot Ranger at Belfast on 4/2/08 two days after breaking down off Larne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stena Pioneer Returns from Dry-Dock 29th January 2008 Stena Pioneer brought the Larne - Fleetwood service up to 3 ships when she returned to service from annual overhaul at Birkenhead on the 29/1/08. The ship departed dry dock at 0200 on the 29/1/08 and moved across the River Mersey into Langton Dock to allow the dry dock at Birkenhead to be reset for another vessel due to berth on the afternoon tide. While in Langton Dock Stena Pioneer made final preparations to re-enter service and left bound for Fleetwood at approx 1330. She berthed in Fleetwood later that evening and took up service to Larne, sailing just after midnight on the 30/1/08. With Stena Pioneer's return to service, Stena Seafarer and Stena Leader adjusted sailing times to switch back onto their usual rosters. Stena Leader arrived at Fleetwood at 0100 on the 30/1/08 and remained in port overnight sailing the following morning at 0700 while Stena Seafarer missed at trip on the 30/1/08 after arriving at Fleetwood on the morning of the 30/1/08. She went to sea light ship in the evening to let Stena Pioneer into port, returning to berth in the early hours of the 31/1/08 prior to returning to her normal roster.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stena
Pioneer departing Langton Dock for Fleetwood on the 29/01/08 after
completing her annual overhaul. Photo: Ian Collard (click to enlarge) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Express to Dry Dock 29th January 2008 P&O fast craft Express left her winter slumber at Donegall Quay, Belfast and made the short journey along the river Lagan to Harland and Wolff shipyard to under go annual overhaul. The vessel left her lay up berth at 0845 on the 29/01/08 and was secure in the dry dock by 0930. She is to undergo a two week refit in dry dock and is scheduled to return to service from Larne to Cairnryan and Troon on |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Express makes her approach to dry dock in Belfast on 29/01/08. Photos: Larne Ferry web (click to enlarge) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Granuaile 3 at Larne 26th January 2008 Irish Lights Tender Granuaile 3 made a stop over at Larne for a few days over the weekend 26-27th January 2008. The vessel carried out maintenance work on the South Hunter buoy and number 1 buoy on the 26/01/08. She anchored off the port for the night and sailed south on the morning of the 27th. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Granuaile
3 working at number 1 buoy Larne being passed by European
Highlander operating the 1030 sailing to Cairnryan. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Adverse Weather Causes Delays 24th January 2008 All services from the Port of Larne were severely delayed or cancelled when late on the evening of the 24/1/08 wind picked up in Larne Harbour to excess of 50 knots. First to feel the effect of the strong wind was Stena Leader on approach to the berth at 2115 had to use two of the port's tugs to assist her onto her berth at Continental Quay. The tugs remained with the vessel while she worked cargo through the night only being dismissed when the vessel sailed at 0720 the following day. Next in line for a buffeting was European Causeway, which failed to berth on arrival at 2230 with her 2000 ex Cairnryan. The vessel had to drop anchor in the harbour to assist maneuvering as she was forced to abort berthing by the off shore gale force winds. The vessel returned to sea and remained outside the port until conditions moderated, berthing at 0200 the following morning. On the 25/1/08 the same ship on arrival at 0930 also had to wait outside the port as the high wind speed prevented safe berthing, she later made an attempt to enter the harbour and made it alongside at 1120 assisted by the port tug Maria McLoughlin. Once things smoothed out both Cairnryan ships returned to schedule by late in the evening of the 25th back on their normal rosters. This spell of bad weather put the ships on the right roster after the previous spell around the 10/1/08 had knocked them onto the opposite roster to normal. Stena Seafarer followed the European Causeway into Larne at 1145 on the 25/1/08 berthing on arrival assisted by Maria McLoughlin. She returned to Fleetwood at 1505 that afternoon and by the 26/1/08 both Fleetwood ships shuffled back to schedule with the 'Seafarer now PM ex Larne and 'Leader working the AM ex Larne sailing. Troon freighter European Mariner spent almost 24 hours from the evening of the 24/1/08 sheltering in the lee of the east coast of Arran as the SW wind had made Troon untenable when she arrived off the port with her 1900 ex Larne late on the 24/1. The vessel berthed at Troon around 2100 on the 25/1/08, discharged and reloaded for Larne sailing at 0030 on the 26/1/08. The vessel missed one round sailing on the route due to the gale. On arrival at Larne at 0800 on the 26/1/08 the vessel remained in port at Curran Quay for weekend lay up. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
European Highlander taking a delayed sailing to Cairnryan at 1430 swinging for sea in strong winds at Larne Harbour on 25/01/08. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Coaster Calls 24th January 2008 Coastal cargo vessel Helene H made a visit to the port of Larne with a cargo of 2500 tons of dolomite from Norway for local receivers in Glenarm. The vessel arrived off the port at 2030 on the 23/1/08 and went to anchor to await the ebb tide for berthing at Olderfleet quay. The vessel berthed at 0125 with local port tug Maria McLoughlin working as pilot boat. Discharge commenced at 0700 that morning and was completed by the following afternoon. The vessel sailed back to Norway at 1520 on the 25/1/08. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Helene H discharging at Olderfleet Quay on 24/01/08. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Helene H departing Olderfleet Quay on 25/01/08. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pilot boat Maria
McLoughlin standing by the departure of Helene H at Larne on
25/01/08. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Seafarer Misses Trip 20th January 2007 Stena Seafarer missed one round voyage on the Larne - Fleetwood route due to an engine problem. The vessel was taken out of service on the 20/1/08 missing her scheduled 1000 to Fleetwood. Repairs were completed and the vessel returned to service with her morning sailing to Fleetwood on the 21/1/08. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ferry Good Year for Port of Larne Ferry Traffic 11th January 2007 Building on the success of 2006, the Port of Larne have revealed 2007 was an even better year for traffic using the seven ferries at the port. In the important freight market all three routes recorded increases over 2006 figures with Stena's Fleetwood service and P&O's Troon service showing the largest increase in vehicle numbers. Last year P&O's Cairnryan service smashed a quarter of a million freight units and this year was another record year although growth was not quite as rapid as in the past number of years. Good results in the tourist passenger/car market compliment the excellent freight figures. Fighting back against low cost airlines P&O introduced fluid pricing for the first time in 2007 and have yielded increased car and passenger traffic on both their routes. Stena have also increased their tourist trade into Fleetwood. Full press release available by following this link: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bad Weather Delays Sailings 10th January 2008 High winds, reported to be as high as force 11, over the evening of the 8th January into the following day caused disruption to all the ferries sailing from the Port of Larne. European Mariner cancelled her Larne - Troon round trip on the 8/1/08. She remained tied up at Larne and returned to service with the 1900 ex Larne on the 9/1/08. Larne - Fleetwood sailings battled on through the storm but lost considerable time due to heavy seas forcing the ships to take longer sea passages to seek as much shelter as possible. On the 9/1/08 Stena Seafarer was 6 hours behind schedule and Stena Leader had accumulated a 5 hour delay. As sea conditions moderated over the following few days both ships picked up time and by 12/1/08 Stena Seafarer was back on schedule. Stena Leader still remained 4 hours late on the 12/1/08 due to unfavourable tides at Fleetwood, but quick turn rounds at both Fleetwood and Larne on the 13/1/08 brought her back to normal schedule. Even the ultra-reliable Cairnryan twins had to submit to the fury of the gales. Both ships were effected particularly due to tricky conditions in Cairnryan where European Highlander was pinned alongside the berth by furious south westerly winds. There were no sailings on the crossing after the 1830 arrivals at either port on the 8th as European Highlander couldn't get off the berth with her 2000 sailing to Larne and it wasn't until around 0530 the following morning before winds eased enough to let her slip out. With the Scottish berth now free this allowed European Causeway to sail from Larne at the same time making the first departure on the route from Larne for 13 hours. Both ships quickly resumed normal working but because the weather conditions caused cancellations both ships have settled down on the opposite roster to normal. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stena Leader Completes Overhaul 6th January 2008 Stena Line's overhaul program continued with the redelivery of Stena Leader to service on the 6/1/08 after refit by North Western Ship Repair at Birkenhead. This was later than the target date for returning to service of 2/1/08. Fleetwood's longest vessel left dry dock at Birkenhead on the evening of the 5/1/08 at around 2030. She proceeded to Fleetwood, arriving during the early hours of the 6/1/08. The vessel loaded later in the morning prior to sailing to Larne at 0915 with her first revenue earning voyage after dry docking. With the return of the 'Leader to service, Stena Pioneer then stood down for refit. Her final sailing was the evening departure from Larne at 2345 on the 5/1/08. She arrived in Fleetwood the following day at 1000 after the 'Leader had cleared the port on her first trip. Once discharged, Stena Pioneer departed for Birkenhead around 1330 and made it into dry dock at Birkenhead at 2045 later that evening. With the refit program still underway, the Larne to Fleetwood route continues on a two ship schedule: Stena Leader on her usual run operating the PM service ex Larne while Stena Seafarer is working the AM sailing ex Larne in place of Stena Pioneer. Stena Seafarer's normal departure slot at 1600 ex Larne is cancelled as Stena have once again decided not to provide a relief vessel to cover overhaul commitments on the Fleetwood route. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stena
Leader arriving at Larne on 6/1/08 on her first trip after annual
overhaul. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
New Year Movements 2008 6th January 2008 After having less than 24 hours off service for the New Year holiday the Cairnryan twins European Highlander and European Causeway opened sailings for 2008 with the 1330 sailings from Larne and Cairnryan on the 1/1/08. 'Causeway sailing 1330 ex Larne and 'Highlander 1330 ex Cairnryan. Both ships settled into normal running straight away and from this sailing normal schedule was resumed on the route. The last sailings of 2007 were the 1630 ex Larne and Cairnryan on the 31/12/07 Troon sailings by European Mariner recommenced with the 1900 ex Larne on the 3/1/08. Her final sailing of 2007 being the 0230 ex Troon on the 29/12/07. Stena's Larne - Fleetwood route had already dropped back to a two ship service on Friday 21/12/07 when Stena Leader left the route for dry docking. Stena Seafarer and Stena Pioneer continued in the meantime providing a two ship service with both vessels completing sailings prior to Christmas with departures from either port at 1000 on 24/12/07. These sailings were for unaccompanied freight only and both vessels remained alongside with cargo still aboard, not discharging until after Christmas. Stena Pioneer spent Christmas at Fleetwood while Stena Seafarer rested alongside Larne's Continental Quay. Summary of Final Movements of 2007/First Movements of 2008 :
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Larne fleet
at rest on 1/1/08. Left to right: Stena Seafarer at
Continental Quay; European Causeway MacKean Quay; European Mariner
Curran Quay. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||