Stena cuts HSS services from Dún Laoghaire

n97 mini

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0830/stena.html

Presumably this won't affect the DL Harbour Company staff.

parsi

Or senior Stena Line management.

zagmund

But the HSS has been seasonal for a few years now. Do they mean they are dropping *even* the Lynx and there will be no sailings ex-DL at all over winter ?

z

LXFlyer

Correct

foggy_lad

At almost €700 return in September for a 9seater two adults and seven children I am not a bit surprised they don't have enough customers to keep them operating all year.

Kensington

They've no choice but to charge higher fare prices, those four gas-turbine engines can't be cheap to run with fuel at the price it is at the moment!

Run_to_da_hills

Kensington wrote: »

They've no choice but to charge higher fare prices, those four gas-turbine engines can't be cheap to run with fuel at the price it is at the moment!

These motors have not run at full whack in years. I also believe they can shut down one motor in calm weather to save on fuel.

n97 mini

Kensington wrote: »

They've no choice but to charge higher fare prices, those four gas-turbine engines can't be cheap to run with fuel at the price it is at the moment!

I believe that DL is one of the most expensive ports Western Europe too.

Cookie_Monster

n97 mini wrote: »

I believe that DL is one of the most expensive ports Western Europe too.

there was a story last year about this and the huge rates DLH were charging Stena. Even their parking charges are higher than most of the city centre...

flazio

Did trucks and/or containers use this vessel? If so this surely would have a knock on effect on Irish imports/exports?

Run_to_da_hills

flazio wrote: »

Did trucks and/or containers use this vessel? If so this surely would have a knock on effect on Irish imports/exports?

Truckers Unions were never in favour of a quick sea crossing.

si_guru

foggy_lad wrote: »

At almost €700 return in September for a 9seater two adults and seven children I am not a bit surprised they don't have enough customers to keep them operating all year.

Agree on Ferry prices in General.

It cost me €100 less to fly to the UK with wife and 2 kids AND hire a diesel car for a week than just the return ferry fare!

DWCommuter

24 people directly affected by this in terms of employment.

Run_to_da_hills

At least our coastline will be spared from further erosion.

ScouseMouse

Will be sad to see that one cut back. Its a fine ship which is nice to travel on.

I spent 3 1/2 hours on monday night on the Stena Nordica into Dublin port and the same again going over.

NEVER AGAIN. Absolutely hated the bucket. I have travelled on all of the irish sea fleet, Stena, Irish Ferries, Norfolk Line (RIP), but the Nordica was the worst yoke I was ever on.

It was small, pokey, and generally not nice.

The HSS will be missed in the off season.

robd

superscouse wrote: »

Will be sad to see that one cut back. Its a fine ship which is nice to travel on.

I spent 3 1/2 hours on monday night on the Stena Nordica into Dublin port and the same again going over.

NEVER AGAIN. Absolutely hated the bucket. I have travelled on all of the irish sea fleet, Stena, Irish Ferries, Norfolk Line (RIP), but the Nordica was the worst yoke I was ever on.

It was small, pokey, and generally not nice.

The HSS will be missed in the off season.

Travelled on most of them in the last few years. Nordica very much Stena's 2nd ship out of Dublin. Explorer is much nicer as is Irish Ferries' Ulysses. Having said that I took a nighttime crossing in Nordica with a cabin to myself which was fine.

There's still the option of the Jonathan Swift for a faster crossing. Also if you're heading to Scotland there's a HSS on the Belfast-Stranraer route.

I'd really question now why the country is keeping Dun Laoghaire open as a commercial harbour for 1 return trip per day during summer season. Would be considerable savings in turning it over for 100% leisure use and concentrating on Dublin Port for ferries. I understand the high port fees given the low traffic.

Kensington

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

These motors have not run at full whack in years. I also believe they can shut down one motor in calm weather to save on fuel.

I thought that alright, I remember all the fanfare about Dublin-Holyhead in 99 minutes years ago at launch, it takes over two hours now I think.

Hilly Bill

I miss the Hibernian party boat.

ScouseMouse

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I miss the Hibernian party boat.

You bet, ah the memories, sitting in Farrells looking at the boat, legging it down at 8.20 and jumping on, then jumping off with crates of fosters, I remember it well.

But to stay on topic : Dublin port will always be waaaayyy cheaper. It has all the buildings, security, facilities and they can spread the fees across the sailings there. Dun Laoghaire has one customer - Stena. So who has to pay that? Stena!

I can see the issues here, but that doesnt help things. Stena would be better pulling out of it altogether.

dowlingm

Can that HSS access Dublin Port or is there a logistical issue?

The_Wrecker

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I miss the Hibernian party boat.

You may head to Jeddah in Saudi arabia to see the old show bar, MF Masarrah.

Drimnagh Road

dowlingm wrote: »

Can that HSS access Dublin Port or is there a logistical issue?

In theory, it would be possible. The linkspan would need to be moved from Dun Laoaghaire to Dublin Port, but there'd be no room for it anywhere at present that I can see.

The issue is the fuel bill, pure and simple. Gas Turbines may have seemed like a good idea in the 90s, but these days, gas turbines and ferries don't mix.

Stena have negotiated a new contract with Dun Laoghaire sometime late last year I think, they secured reduced fees and are committedto the port for the next three years (I think).

Rumours suggest that the Explorer will be withdrawn this year, with the sister Voyager coming down from Belfast which herself will be made redundant from October / November to operate the Dun Laoghaire route next Summer.

Besides the fuel bill, Dun Laoghaire is not suited to freight, freight drivers and transport companies want to go to Dublin Port, and freight is where the money is.

Tourist traffic just about covers the costs of the HSS during the Summer time, so with no freight on-board, you'd have a virtually empty ship during the low season.

I remember when the HSS service on the Hook of Holland-Harwich route was withdrawn, Stena themselves said shortly afterwards that the fuel used on a single round trip (bear in mind that route was 3:45 long at high speed) equated that of all the other Stena ships operating in the North Sea combined.

Sean9015

robd wrote: »

Travelled on most of them in the last few years. Nordica very much Stena's 2nd ship out of Dublin. Explorer is much nicer as is Irish Ferries' Ulysses. Having said that I took a nighttime crossing in Nordica with a cabin to myself which was fine.

You like Explorer? The only time I went on it I ended up sitting in McDonalds type chairs for four hours - never again (only used it then because the Seacat to Liverpool was cancelled). Ulysses is better by an order of magnitude, as is Isle of Inisfree which has subbed on a couple of trips. Used HSS a couple of times several years ago, was OK but nothing to write home about other than the speed. Would never use Stena again.

The_Wrecker

After a few cancellations i now use Dublin port and standard ferries, unless im flying. You cant rely on the HSS out of season.

robd

Sean9015 wrote: »

You like Explorer? The only time I went on it I ended up sitting in McDonalds type chairs for four hours - never again (only used it then because the Seacat to Liverpool was cancelled). Ulysses is better by an order of magnitude, as is Isle of Inisfree which has subbed on a couple of trips. Used HSS a couple of times several years ago, was OK but nothing to write home about other than the speed. Would never use Stena again.

Sorry. Meant to stay Adventurer. To be honest I tend to pay the extra for the plus lounges on both Stena and Irish Ferries. I try to justify it by saying it pays for itself through free coffees and danishes. These are much more comfortable, often very empty and usually quite as most families are budget conscious and avoid it so no kids.

Arfan

Went for a round trip recently Dublin - Holyhead, Fishguard - Rosslare. The difference between the Nordica and the Europe was incredible. Oddly though the Europe seems to be stuck on the quieter route despite being in a much better state.

ScouseMouse

Drimnagh Road wrote: »

In theory, it would be possible. The linkspan would need to be moved from Dun Laoaghaire to Dublin Port, but there'd be no room for it anywhere at present that I can see.

The issue is the fuel bill, pure and simple. Gas Turbines may have seemed like a good idea in the 90s, but these days, gas turbines and ferries don't mix.

I agree with you about the fuel bill, but surely there is loads of space in Dublin Port now Norfolkline has gone? I went out of there last weekend and the berth looked abandoned. Just a few new cars. That berth is very wide and I would imagine it would take the HSS easily.

seanmacc

superscouse wrote: »

I agree with you about the fuel bill, but surely there is loads of space in Dublin Port now Norfolkline has gone? I went out of there last weekend and the berth looked abandoned. Just a few new cars. That berth is very wide and I would imagine it would take the HSS easily.

Seatruck are now using the Norfolkline berth. They sail in the morning and evening to Birkenhead and have a new ship coming in the next few weeks. Seatruck were originally beside the old graving docks on the Alexander Road but that berth is going to become the new Dublin Port cruise ship terminal I believe.
The Stena HSS has a great big for sale sign on it for any company to take on. The ship was commissioned back in the day there was duty free and loads of passenger traffic on ferrys and there is very little call for a vessel of its size and speed in Europe. It's even impossible to move it to Dublin Port as the ship requires a specialized ramp and a magnetic docking system both which will have to be retrofitted in Dublin port. I can't see Stena paying for this as it would be expensive to rent a dedicated ramp that nobody else can use. I believe the Stena Lynx has been sold also if I'm not mistaken?

Seaswimmer

The_Wrecker wrote: »

After a few cancellations i now use Dublin port and standard ferries, unless im flying. You cant rely on the HSS out of season.

The joke around Dun Laoghaire when it started was that HSS stood for "Hope She Sails"

Drimnagh Road

Seaswimmer wrote: »

The joke around Dun Laoghaire when it started was that HSS stood for "Hope She Sails"

Ha ha, yes there was a few over the years;

Hasn't Sailed Since (my fav)
Heard She Sunk
Heap of Scandinavian Sh1te
Heap of Scandinavian Scrapmetal
Hopeless Stena Service
Horrendously Slow & Sh1t