By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Irish Continental Group (ICG) is partnering with German shipbuilding firm Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesselschaft (FSG) to build a cruise ferry for the Dublin-Holyhead route.
The ferry will accommodate 1,800 passengers and crew, with a capacity for 5,610 freight lane metres, which provides the capability to carry 330 freight units per sailing.
Emissions scrubber technology and ballast water systems will help the vessel meet current environmental regulations and deliver optimal fuel consumption while minimising related costs.
The vessel will also adhere to ice-class specification, allowing it to have a wide geographic area of operation.
The cruise ferry is being built specifically for Irish Ferries' Dublin-Holyhead services. It is expected to replace Ulysses, which in turn will replace the currently chartered Epsilon in the fleet. This will allow for the deployment of the new W.B. Yeats full-time on the direct Ireland-France route alongside Oscar Wilde.
The vessel has been designed for three-tier freight bow loading, and passenger facilities will be spread over three decks including a choice of bars, restaurants and entertainment options.
“This investment underpins the confidence the group has in the markets in which we operate,” said Eamonn Rothwell, CEO of ICG. “Alongside the recent investment in W.B. Yeats, it brings our total investment to €315 million for these two vessels designed for our operations on the Irish Sea. The construction of a cruise ferry of this size will offer both additional capacity and an enhanced experience for both our tourism and freight customers. This infrastructural investment enhances ‘the bridge’ to the UK and Continental Europe that is a vital part of the continued success of Ireland's open economy.”
The cruise ferry is scheduled for delivery in 2020.