Larne's relief ferries

With the turkey all eaten and the crackers all pulled, in days gone by the period immediately after Christmas invariably marked the beginning of Larne's overhaul season. On the short sea Cairnryan and Stranraer crossings the overhauls were usually finished by Easter while the much more freight orientated Fleetwood and Ardrossan routes would have their refit period in the middle of the summer when the freight traffic drops off.

All at the port would be waiting with bated breath to see what would grace the port while the regular fleet would be retired for overhaul. The appearance of the relief ferries was one of the high points of the year, something new borrowed from somewhere else to substitute at probably the roughest time of the year weather-wise on demanding routes. Each relief ferry has a story to tell and I try to outline a few of the many tales via the hyperlinked pages below. (not them all as I wouldn't have any more tales to tell in the months ahead)

Larne - Cairnryan route

Larne - Fleetwood route

Larne - Ardrossan route (Troon from July 2001)

Larne - Stranraer route

I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you think that relief ferry was a turkey or a cracker!

Many Thanks to all the readers who sent very encouraging emails about how they enjoyed this series of features about Larne's relief ferries. Your positive feedback is very much appreciated. LFW

Nigel Thornton (for access to his father's collection), Gary Andrews, Steven Brown, Justin Merrigan, Joe McKay, Dougie McIntyre, Clive Jackson, William Agnew, Aubrey Dale and Wilson Adams (click here for Wilson's photo gallery). Big thanks to all of you for sharing with us all those very special photos.

Also thanks to Gary Andrews, "SP," "Brewster," William Agnew, Brian McMaw, Clive Jackson, Justin Merrigan, Jim Rice, Jimmy Dowey and Pete-the-fastest-tug-driver-in-the-west-Bacon for help with all the info. Corrections as ever gratefully received, email me with them here