New North Channel fast ferry Express made her Larne debut on the 13/3/05 making all fast at her Chaine Quay berth for the first time at 2100hrs.  Replacing the previous Larne based favourite Superstar Express on the fast ferry routes between Larne - Cairnryan and Larne - Troon the new arrival has some mighty big shoes to fill.  Superstar Express gave 4 excellent years of service that were practically trouble free and she helped salvage the service from despair after almost 5 difficult years operated by the trouble prone Jetliner.

The story of the Express begins with her building by International Catamarans in Hobart Tasmania as Catalonia L in 1998 and her arrival at Larne marks the first fast craft from that builder to operate from the port.  The ship briefly held the Hales Trophy in June 1998 for the fastest sea crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, which she completed in a time of 3 days 4 hours 30 minutes at an average speed of 38.85kts.  Subsequently this was beaten in July 1998 by Cat-Link V, which shaved 2 hours from the time, completing the crossing with an average speed of 39.897kts.

Taken on charter by P&O Portsmouth in 2000 the vessel was marketed as Portsmouth Express and entered service on the Portsmouth - Cherbourg crossing replacing Superstar Express, which transferred to Larne.  Superstar Express was soon to return to Portsmouth as her replacement vessel developed mechanical difficulties and had to be withdrawn from service.  Further mechanical trouble was a recurring problem for Portsmouth Express in subsequent years and almost as troublesome to keep track off was her confusing array of identities.  Known at first as Portsmouth Express she also carried her registered name Catalonia in small letters on her hull.  She was later to be marketed as Express and finally became Cherbourg Express before withdrawal from the Portsmouth - Cherbourg route in autumn 2004.

The list of various names carried by the craft:

Catalonia L (1998 - 2000)
Portsmouth Express 2000 - 2001 (summer only)
Catalonia (2000 - 2003) during winter service in Mediterranean
Express Fastcraft (2003 marketed as Express)
Cherbourg Express (2004)
Express (2004 - present marketed in the Irish Sea from 2005 as P&O Express)

In P&O's review of ferry operations Portsmouth fast craft operations were withdrawn and the Cherbourg Express was ear marked to once again replace Superstar Express on the Larne based fast ferry services to Scotland.  For several months during the winter of 2004/2005 both vessels faced each other in the wet basin at A&P Birkenhead before Cherbourg Express was removed to dry dock to prepare her for service on the North Channel.  A new stern ramp was fitted in the refit along with a new passenger gangway door amidships, finally with her name truncated once more to Express, although sailing with P&O Express on the hull, the ship departed Birkenhead bound for Larne shortly before 12 noon on the 13th of March.

Four views of Express departing the River Mersey for Larne Harbour after her dry docking on 13/3/05.  All photos: Michael Bracken (click to enlarge) Also capturing the event was Ian Collard and John Luxton, their photos are available on irishseashipping.com here

On the way north Express made a stop at Douglas for berthing trials between 1525 and 1655.  These trials are in advance of Express making six round voyages from Larne to Douglas on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company during the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorbike races in early June.  These are scheduled for the 1, 2, 3, 6, 11 and 12 of June departing Larne at 2315 (6, 11 & 12) or 2359 (1, 2 & 3) and returning by 0600 next morning.  These will be the first commercial Larne - IOM ferry voyages in recent memory.

Four views of Express at Douglas for berthing trials on 13/3/05.  She tried out the ro-ro berths on both piers at the port.  Photos: Alex McCormac (click to enlarge) An expanded gallery of photos from Alex is available on irishseashippng.com here

The new vessel made her Larne debut at 1945 when she entered the port limits for the first time but as the European Causeway was about to depart on her 2000 to Cairnryan, the fast craft waited outside the channel into Larne until the outbound ferry departed.  After a careful approach and sorting out optimum rope configurations the craft was all fast at 2100 allowing the final preparation work required before she enters service to continue. 

Her own service for P&O is expected to begin on the 16th of March with the 0715 service to Troon and the publicity bandwagon has hit overdrive with adverts on buses, billboards, newspapers and on TV in the usual bright neon pink and blue.  She will initially sail 3 round sailings per day - two to Troon and one to Cairnryan.  In high summer this will step up to a similar schedule to that operated by Superstar Express last year with two round sailings to Troon and two to Cairnryan.

Express Timetable 16 March - 23 June and 30 August - 3 October

Between 24 June - 29 August a second round trip to Cairnryan will be operated:  (for reference, last year's Superstar Express timings are in brackets.)

The extra Cairnryan sailing will help cover for the refit period of European Causeway and European Highlander between 10 July - 7 August.

Some of this year's publicity blurb (click to enlarge):

Updated: 18/03/05

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