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Stena cuts HSS services from Dún Laoghaire

  • 13-09-2011 8:54pm
    #1
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,078 ✭✭✭✭


    Stena Line has announced that the HSS fast craft Dún Laoghaire-Holyhead service will be reduced to a seasonal operation from next month.

    The company said the decision was taken because of the high cost of operating the Stena Explorer, which had "traded at a financial loss for several years."

    It said that much of the turnover on the route was generated between May and September.

    Stena Line said the fast craft service would operate until 13 September and would then be suspended until the 2012 season.

    The company will continue to operate two ferries year round between Dublin Port and Holyhead.

    Area Director for Stena Line's business on the Irish Sea Michael McGrath said: "Despite all our attempts to reduce operating costs over the last few years, it has not been possible to return the route to profitability.

    "We regret that this decision will have an impact amongst our ship's personnel and our port operations staff in Dun Laoghaire but this is a decision that has to be taken for the benefit of the overall business. We simply cannot continue to sustain these levels of financial losses.

    "We will now embark on a period of consultation with our staff and their union representatives to discuss the implications of the proposed changes with them."

    Stena says it hope to start the service again in April or May, although no decision has been made on an exact date.

    It is believed around 53 staff will be affected by the decision.

    Taken from the RTE website.


Comments

  • #2
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,078 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    Nobody interested in this^

    Personally I think its a great loss :(


  • #3
    zagmund
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭zagmund


    Was discussed here a few weeks back. That press release is a little old. From what I can tell (i.e. not seeing it out the window) it has stopped already.

    z


  • #4
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,078 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    Headline news on RTE yesterday, and it caught my eye, hence this thread.

    I think Dun Laoghaire will suffer, and I think its a great loss after 180+ years!


  • #5
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Massive shame, but no great surprise.

    I wonder if the Stena Europe would fit in to DL harbour?


  • #6
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,809 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    TBH, the loss to DL as a town will be minimal, the passengers pretty much all continue on by.

    The greatest loss will be to the Stena staff who will be made redundant as a result of the ferry leaving.

    DL harbour is not suitable for any conventional ferries anymore, they put all their eggs in one basket and now that show is over.


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  • #7
    munchkin_utd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,927 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    Carrying on from reduction to only a seasonal service 3 years ago, now it's even more seasonal with the cancellation of Christmas sailings this year.
    The schedule for the Stena HSS Explorer from Dun Laoghaire has been reduced over the past four years, running on a seasonal basis throughout the summer and for a few weeks at Christmas.

    Sailings were due to run from December 20 until January.

    The company have released a statement stating that they have taken the decision not to re-activate the vessel for the Christmas holiday period due to “commercial and operational reasons.”

    “Customers who have already booked on the service will be accommodated on other sailings best suited to their travel requirements,” it said.

    “Stena Line is currently engaged in ongoing discussions with Dun Laoghaire Harbour in relation to the provision of a seasonal fast craft service in 2015.”

    The fast ferry has capacity for up to 1,500 passengers and takes two hours and twenty minutes to get from Dublin to Wales.
    http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/stena-line-cancels-fastcraft-holyhead-service-over-christmas-period-30764637.html

    Rumours reckon it could be the end of the ferry for good as it may take millions to get the re certification for full passenger operation which is due before the start of summer operations, and that might not make commercial sense for a ferry that is only in use for part of the year, and even then only one service per day.

    EDIT- should the HSS leave Dun Laoghaire then that may be the end of scheduled passenger ferries to Britain from the port, which started regular services in 1835 when the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company starts to use Dun Laoghaire for passengers


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