Larne has been somewhat eclipsed by Belfast in recent years as the main passenger ferry port in Northern Ireland but it still retains its strong freight focus.  Lorry drivers continue to benefit from a hassle free service using ferries dedicated to freight customers on a year round basis.  Carrying over a quarter of a million freight units per year the busy Larne - Cairnryan route offers freight sailings roughly every three hours around the clock using European Highlander and European Causeway.  The Larne - Troon service operated by European Mariner compliments the Cairnryan service with a nightly sailing in each direction catering for mainly unaccompanied cargo.  Additionally, Cairnryan and Troon are both served by fast craft Express from March to October each year catering for cars and light freight vehicles only.

Stena Line's long haul route to Fleetwood continues to perform well in the face of stiff competition from other operators using more modern tonnage.  Stena's 32 year old veterans Stena Leader, Stena Seafarer and Stena Pioneer have served Fleetwood for most of their operational lives and remain popular vessels with crews and freight customers alike.  Freight throughput on this crossing rose by 3.5% last year making it one of the best performing services in Stena's extensive route network and a prime candidate to receive future investment to continue these excellent gains.

To accomodate the seven vessels which regularly ply their trade from the port, Larne's has four ro-ro ramps which can accept a myriad variety of wheeled cargo.  The adjustable sections of each ramp are based on hydraulic power systems which can take deck loads of up to 180 tons and allow millimetre precision in positioning the ramp to suit whatever vessel may moor at the berth.  Three of the berths have double decked ramps and the original two at Chaine Quay and Continental Quay were commissioned in 1978 becoming the first of their kind on the Irish Sea.  They have stood the test of time well, however modern ferry tonnage is beginning to push Larne's shore infrastructure to its limits in terms of length and breadth of vessel that can be accommodated.  To remain a player in the ro-ro market Larne must soon invest in its infrastructure to address a number of issues if larger ferries are to be a part of the port's future.

Below is a number of interesting cargoes that regularly pass through the port onboard the seven ferries that serve the three routes from Larne.

	This heavy load arrived on the European Highlander's 0415 ex Cairnryan on the 2/4/07.  It is a new boiler measuring 33m long and weighing in at 99 tons.
	The tug Roerdomp arrived in Larne on the 9/12/05 on the back of a trailer that came off one of the Cairnryan ferries.  She was taken to Carrick to carry out dredging at the port's marina
	A regular trade via Larne are new buses which arrive as chassis and they have their bodies fitted at Wright's coach builders of Ballymena.  This unit sitting on the quayside at Larne is destined for Dublin Bus.
	Unusual vehicles like this dump truck often form part of European Mariner's freight load.  This one is at Larne awaiting shipping on the 7/5/07
	Quite a bit lighter than the dump truck above this rib Arran Adventure was also shipped by European Mariner
	One of the wind turbine towers shipped in by European Mariner from Campbeltown seen on the quayside at Larne on the 1/4/07
	Three brand new flat bed container trailers for Freightliner built in Northern Ireland awaiting shipping to England by one of Stena Line's Fleetwood vessels.
	This port-a-cabin gets swallowed up by Stena Pioneer's freight decks at Larne on 7/5/07
	Recycling at work - one of Stena's main interests is metal recycling and this lot of scrap cars was shipped out via their Fleetwood service
	Not only does Larne handle new buses but this vintage one was shipped out from Larne via Fleetwood on 25/6/05
	This river boat eventually became the Lady Sandel for cruises on the River Bann from Coleraine.  She was brought in from England aboard Stena Seafarer and is seen at Larne on the 1/6/06
	Boarding Express for Troon is the replica van that featured in The A-Team TV series from the 1980's.  Photo: Marc Gilbert
	Following on the A-Team van is the Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee (yee haa).  Both these vehicles are regular visitors to Larne and they are part of the garage of "star cars" that can be hired from the Larne based specialist hire company www.starcarhire.co.uk  Photo: Marc Gilbert
	Express boarding one group of several hundred motorbikes that she shipped over to Northern Ireland in May 2007 bringing race fans to and from the North West 200 races.  Photo: Marc Gilbert

Updated: 25/08/07

Back to top