Sealink-Holyhead

Maintaining the Link

2012-02-21T15:03:00.000+11:00

Dublin Bay and the evening rotation is captured by Kenneth Whyte. The Stena Adventurer, inward to Dublin with the Stena Nordica outbound for Holyhead. As the sun sets on the fast ferry era the two ships are very much the mainstay of Stena Line's central corridor options.

Sealink-Holyhead.com

2012-01-15T12:54:00.000+11:00

Main website updated today:
Isle of Inishmore
We Remember Them
Sealink-Holyhead.com

The new North Channel order

2011-11-27T14:01:00.000+11:00

Precision timing, or perhaps good luck? Either way, an impressive
view of the Stena Superfast VII and the Stena Superfast VIII. The
ships of the former Flagship Service have passed aside and a new order
reigns on Loch Ryan. Photo: Justin Merrigan Collection

29 years....

2011-11-27T11:05:00.000+11:00

...separates these two views. Top, standing by the wheel of the new St David on passage to Holyhead, January 1982. 29 years later on my final visit to the ship, as the Stena Caledonia, off the entrance to Loch Ryan, inward to Stranraer.

The day after

2011-11-23T06:17:00.000+11:00

Joining the Stena Navigator at the Albert Quay the Stena Caledonia is seen in layup on 22nd November 2011. No doubt the ship's future will soon become clear and, given recent transactions, a one way voyage to the breakers yard can not be ruled out. Photo: Scott Mackey

Flags a plenty!

2011-11-22T21:33:00.000+11:00

With a nod to her past, Senior Master Captain Murray Paterson flew
these flags on the Stena Caledonia's final daylight sailings. Below
the Stena house flag and Red Ensign we have, top to bottom; the Royal
Mail standard, St David name pennant, the Civil Jack, British Rail
house flag and Sealink British Ferries house flag. Photo: Scott Mackey

The North Channel's final Sealink Master...

2011-11-22T21:20:00.001+11:00

...brings the final Sealink ferry in the Stena Line fleet into the
former Sealink-owned port of Stranraer on her last daylight arrival,
Sunday 20th November. Photo: Scott Mackey

"Open the visor"

2011-11-22T20:56:00.000+11:00

A view from the Bridge as the Stena Caledonia approaches Stranraer on her final day time arrival, 1100hrs on Sunday 20th November 2011. Photo: Scott Mackey

Purposeful until the end!

2011-11-22T20:44:00.000+11:00

The Stena Caledonia is seen on a dull and wet day from Stena Superfast VII as she passes Loch Ryan Port, two days before withdrawal. Photo: Scott Mackey

Under darkness, she slips away

2011-11-21T19:18:00.000+11:00

With just over two days to go before the curtain falls, the Stena Caledonia slips past the new terminal at Cairnryan, with the 1735hrs sailing, occupied by her replacement, the Stena Superfast VII. 19th November 2011. Photo: Justin Merrigan Collection

Farewell Stranraer

2011-11-21T19:13:00.000+11:00

The final sailing has left, the Stena Caledonia taking the 0330 departure on Monday 21st November 2011. Stranraer has closed as a ferry port. Here the ship is seen in the port's dying days. Photo: Justin Merrigan Collection

On borrowed time

2011-11-21T19:05:00.000+11:00

A complete revamp of the North Channel route involving the construction of a new terminal at Cairnryan, the withdrawal of the HSS service and the acquisition of two ships from the well known "Superfast" class numbered the days of the Stena Caledonia and her recent running mate, the Stena Navigator. Despite this, Stena continued to invest in the old ships, pending the arrival of the newcomers. Full credit must go to the operator, and of course the crews involved, for keeping standards on the ships to impeccable levels to the end. Photos: Scott Mackey

Loch Ryan moments

2011-11-21T18:08:00.000+11:00

The Stena Caledonia in Loch Ryan. Photos: John Lewis

Rosslare sojourn

2011-11-21T14:37:00.000+11:00

The Stena Caledonia at Rosslare providing overhaul relief for the Stena Europe. Photos: Derry Walsh

Goodbye Larne, farewell Sealink

2011-11-21T13:23:00.000+11:00

Stena Sealink was eventually absorbed into Stena Line and the Sealink brand was cast into history. This coincided with the transfer of the Northern Irish terminal from Larne to Belfast ahead of the 1996 introduction of the HSS Stena Voyager. Photos: Derry Walsh

Stena Sealink Line

2011-11-21T10:57:00.000+11:00

It was not long before Sealink Stena Line became Stena Sealink Line... Photo: Scott Mackey

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All change again

2011-11-21T09:54:00.000+11:00

In 1990 Sealink British Ferries was sold by Sea Containers to Sweden's Stena Line. Outwardly, the first change was the renaming of ships - the St David becoming the Stena Caledonia. Liveries were also modified - the company trading as Sealink Stena Line. Photo: Scott Mackey

St David

2011-11-21T09:17:00.001+11:00

Viewed from astern the St David was not blessed with good looks! Her after bridge was an afterthought - being installed towards the end of her construction when the ship was switched from Fishguard to Holyhead. Photo: Justin Merrigan Collection

Private ownership

2011-11-20T19:43:00.000+11:00

In Sealink British Ferries colours the St David is alongside at Stranraer, her then new home port, in 1986. Photo: Justin Merrigan Collection

Glasgow days

2011-11-19T20:09:00.001+11:00

Govan played host to quite a few Sealink ships during the late 1970's and early 1980's, amongst them the St David. In these shots we see the ship arriving under the command of Captain Walter Lloyd Williams (who took the dry dock shot). Paul Strathdee captured the vessel under way.

The Welsh Saint

2011-11-19T17:31:00.000+11:00

A fine shot by Captain Glynne Pritchard of the St David arriving at Holyhead. Glynne's brother Idwal was the first Senior Master of the ship; standing by her at Belfast and delivering her to Holyhead in August 1981.

Holyhead arrival

2011-11-18T15:17:00.001+11:00

Under the command of Captain Bob Crane, the St David is captured from a laid up St Columba by her then Chief Officer, Neville Lester. Shortly after the arrival of the new ship in August 1981 it was realized that she would be a more economical unit to operate during the coming winter months.

Dover sojourn

2011-11-17T21:14:00.000+11:00

The St David arrives at Dover from Calais whilst covering for the refit of her near sisters St Anselm and St Christopher. Photo: Ken Larwood, courtesy of Nigel Thornton

Summer days

2011-11-17T07:15:00.000+11:00

The St David arrives at Dun Laoghaire with her 0900 sailing from Holyhead, 1983. Photo: Don Smith/Pictureships

First season

2011-11-16T20:01:00.000+11:00

The St David swings off the Carlisle Pier, Dun Laoghaire in her 14.30
sailing to Holyhead in August 1981. Photo: Dermot Bremner

St David: A trip down memory lane

2011-11-15T19:31:00.001+11:00

So the St David enters her final days of Irish Sea service. She has been a faithful servant to her operators, Sealink UK Ltd, Sealink British Ferries, Sealink Stena Line, Stena Sealink Line and of course Stena Line. To remain in service for over 30 years on the trade for which she was designed - Irish Sea and channel services - is quite remarkable. Intended for Fishguard, but entering service at Holyhead in 1981 before operating between Dover and Ostend in 1985, she settled down into Scottish service at Stranraer in 1986. And how well she has performed since then.

In tribute, between today and her withdrawal from service, we take a trip down memory lane with a look back at the Stena Caledonia's career. I hope you will enjoy.

The St David on relief duty at Stranraer in Sealink days. Photo: Justin Merrigan Collection

Dun Laoghaire memories

2011-11-14T20:25:00.000+11:00

30 years ago and the St Columba loads at the Carlisle Pier for the
0845 sailing to Holyhead. Photo: Justin Merrigan

St David at Holyhead - 1984

2011-11-14T19:09:00.001+11:00

Resting at Holyhead between her summer schedule sailings is the St
David, then three years old. She is seen minus her British Rail arrows
which were removed in readiness for privatisation in June 1984. The
season proved to be her last as a Holyhead ship - new owners British
Ferries having other ideas for her. 1985 saw her removal to Dover for
an ill-fated service to Ostend. It was then to Stranraer from 1986 and
she has been there ever since. The St David did sail from Holyhead
again; in 1986, '87 and finally in 1988. It was during this spell of
overhaul relief that she suffered a fire while alongside at Dun
Laoghaire. How nice it would be if she were to call in at her former
home port one last time before leaving the Irish Sea for ever. Photo:
Justin Merrigan

On borrowed time

2011-11-14T06:50:00.000+11:00

Sailing in the shadow of withdrawal, the Stena Caledonia makes her way up the well worn Loch Ryan channel to Stranraer. Alongside at the new Cairnryan terminal is the freshly arrived replacement for the Stena Navigator, the Stena Superfast VII. At the moment the Stena Caledonia is expected to last until 27th November when she will be replaced by the delayed Stena Superfast VIII.

23 years ago

2011-11-13T19:38:00.000+11:00

Dun Laoghaire Harbour 23 years ago! Where has time gone? The St
Columba, as usual, on the Carlisle Pier having arrived form Holyhead
at 0645. She has been followed in by the Earl William from Liverpool;
her engines are still running and Captain Simon Townsend is on the
bridge wing securing his ship. As for me - I'm onboard the St Cybi
with Captain Neville Lester. Such happy days and now, given Dun
Laoghaire's significant demise as a ferry port, how grateful I am that
I have been able to capture these moments in time.

Final Irish Sea days for former St David

2011-11-13T11:37:00.000+11:00

When she entered service at Holyhead in 1981 she was considered huge! Today the former St David is dwarfed by Stena Line's new Superfast ships for Cairnryan. An outstanding photo from Kenny Whyte.

Dun Laoghaire reduced to a seasonal ferry service

2011-09-01T20:39:00.001+10:00

How sad that 185 years and 1 day after the Post Office moved its Irish Sea terminal from Howth to Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire) the announcement by Stena Line of the further downgrading of Dun Laoghaire as a ferry port should be made.

Since then, through two world wars, the Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire service has been a part of the fabric of Irish life. Now, largely because the fuel-thirsty HSS Stena Explorer is uneconomical to operate, the route is being sacrificed.

The fix, it seems, is to operate the HSS from May to September next year. Surely the fix must at least involve the replacement of the vessel burning a hole in the route's bottom line?

Happy Birthday Stena Caledonia!

2011-08-10T09:18:00.001+10:00

Thirty years ago today the Stena Caledonia entered service at Holyhead as the St David. The last large Channel and Irish Sea ferry built for Sealink departed Holyhead on the 0900 sailing under the command of her senior master, Captain Idwal Pritchard. Her return sailing was from Dun Laoghaire at 1400, with a second round trip leaving Holyhead at 1900. In this view, by Captain Glynne Pritchard, the ship is seen arriving at Holyhead on 5th August 1981 on completion of her delivery voyage from Belfast where she was built by Harland & Wolff. Visit the ship's pages on the main website here.

The Cruise Ships Keep Coming!

2011-08-07T15:52:00.001+10:00

The Crown Princess was back at Holyhead on Saturday 6th August, arriving alongside the Cruise Terminal from the Channel Islands at 08:10hrs. The ship's arrival slightly delayed the departure of the Stena Nordica for Dublin - but the wait was worth it I'm sure! The availability of a berth for these large cruise ships is a huge benefit to Holyhead and the surrounding area. Now the town just needs a makeover to attract visitors onto its streets. With shopping concentrated on the outskirts their is every opportunity to develop the town centre as a tourist attraction with quality eateries and coffee shops delivering Welsh hospitality to the international visitors. Photo by Ronnie Roberts.

A new Stena Hibernia

2011-08-02T20:42:00.000+10:00

A familiar name returns to the Irish Sea, albeit on a freight ship. The name strongly connected with the Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire route has been revived, for the Belfast - Heysham freight service. This excellent photo by Scott Mackey.

Welcome Stena Scotia

2011-07-28T19:40:00.000+10:00

The former DFDS Seaways Belfast-Heysham vessel Scotia Seaways has been renamed Stena Scotia. The ship is seen here on Belfast Lough on 27th July, captured by Scott Mackey.

Historic names once more

2011-07-26T16:57:00.000+10:00

With the dropping of the Sealink name in 1995 some historic and loved names from British Rail and Sealink days, reinstated by Stena in 1991, were cast aside as the last ties with the former company were severed. While the Stena Cambria (ex-St Anselm) retained her name until sold by Stena, the Stena Hibernia (ex-St Columba) became Stena Adventurer.

Since the takeover by Stena Line of the former DFDS Seaways Irish routes out of Belfast one has looked to the Scotia Seaways and Hibernia Seaways on the Heysham service and wondered if, on completion of sale formalities, we might once again see those historic names on the Irish Sea.

And so it was with a slight smile this morning that I was prompted to look for the Scotia Seaways on AIS to find that she has indeed become the Stena Scotia. It is thought her sister will become the Stena Hibernia this coming weekend.

Just a pity they are not Holyhead ships, where these names - without the Stena prefix - have such a long and venerable history, particularly where the Hibernia of 1949 is concerned. Of course the ships to carry these names through the passage of time were passenger ships; the cream of the Railway crop. The last Scotia to serve Holyhead was lost at Dunkirk in May 1940.

Latest Updates

2011-07-16T21:11:00.000+10:00

The sealink-holyhead.com web site was updated today!

Cambria
Hibernia
Connacht

More soon!

Latest Website Updates

2011-07-02T18:03:00.000+10:00

The Sealink-Holyhead website has been updated.

Sealink Masters
Railway Ships - Colchester
Railway Ships - Isle of Ely

Sealink-Holyhead

Marking 450 years of shipping from Holyhead to the Dublin area

2011-06-29T09:54:00.001+10:00

A Service of Thanksgiving for 450 years of shipping from Holyhead to the Dublin area will be held in:
St. Phillip’s Church,
Temple Road,
Dartry,
Dublin 6
At 3.00pm
On Sunday 10th July
Reception afterwards sponsored by Stena Line

Over a century ago the staff of what was then the LNWR in Dublin paid for the erection of a stained glass window at St Phillip's in memory of W.G. Skipworth who died on 2^nd July, 1898, and had been Irish Traffic Manager since 1869. He was very popular, organising annual excursions and musical evenings for the staff, but he also kept elderly staff on as long as possible, there was no pension provision for the outdoor staff at all at that time, and no old-age pensions. All interested in Holyhead ships welcome!

Crown Princess becomes largest ship to berth at Holyhead

2011-06-25T17:22:00.003+10:00

The Crown Princess alongside at Holyhead. Photo Copyright Ronnie Roberts.

The Crown Princess arrived alongside Holyhead's cruise berth at 0600 this morning, the largest ship to berth at the former Tinto jetty. Built in 1996 she is one of Princess Cruises largest ships with capacity for over 3000 passengers. Sailing on a British Isle cruise the ship arrived in from Dublin.

Class and type:	Grand class cruise ship
Tonnage:	gross tonnage (GT) of 113,000 tons
Length:	951 ft (290 m)
Beam:	waterline: 118 ft (36 m) maximum: 159 ft (48 m)
Height:	195 ft (59 m)
Draught:	27.88 ft (8.50 m)
Depth:	37.4 ft (11.4 m)
Decks:	19
Installed power:	Wärtsilä ZA40S V-16 and V-12 at 20,160 kilowatts (20.16 MW)
Propulsion:	Fixed pitch propellers with Siemens electric propulsion at 19 megawatts (19,000 kW)
Speed:	maximum: 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph)
Capacity:	3,080 passengers
Crew:	1,201

Stena Adventurer is back

2011-06-25T15:13:00.000+10:00

The Stena Adventurer has returned to service at Holyhead and very smart she is looking too! Her return has allowed the Norman Trader to stand down.

Sealink-Holyhead Website Update

2011-06-20T19:22:00.000+10:00

The ships area in the Stena Line section of the Sealink-Holyhead website has been updated with a new page on the Norman Trader. Sealink-Holyhead.com

Holyhead to Ireland: Stena and its Welsh Heritage

2011-06-16T19:25:00.001+10:00

Humbled by the excellent review of my book with Ian Collard in the Telegraph, the newspaper of the UK and Dutch Merchant Navy officers union Nautilus.
It reads:
There could have been few better qualified people to produce this book than Justin Merrigan and Ian Collard - a writer and a photographer with a shared passion for and professional connection with the subject matter.
Packed with a wealth of great illustrations, their book is a fascinating and entertaining account of the history of the port of Holyhead and the social and economic importance of the ferry services that have run from it.
It's a story that takes in many wider themes - including war, ship design and operation, changes in society and governmental transport policy, reminding us how the concept of integrated transport was pioneered many decades ago by rail companies.
Unlike many maritime history books, this one has a solid human touch as the authors pay proper tribute to the seafarers who have helped make these services so successful over the years., and they draw extensively from accounts of former masters and officers. Particularly striking are the recollections of Captain John Bakewell on the way in which the professionalism of the crew managed to avert a serious accident when the St Columba suffered an engine room fire in 1990.
The book concludes on a positive note, pointing to the continued bustling ferry trade and the potential for growing the number of cruise ship calls.
Amberley Publishing
ISBN 978-1-84868-958-9

Holyhead's Changing Skyline

2011-06-15T21:08:00.000+10:00

A large Bob Francis crane and a high platform at Holyhead's Tinto Jetty on 14th June. The removal of the second tower creates a drastically altered skyline in the Outer Harbour. Photo: Ronnie Roberts.

We're BACK!

2011-06-15T18:48:00.000+10:00

Finally!! Have managed to access the editing suite AND publish the latest update! Click here for the latest!

Web Site Update

2011-06-15T09:52:00.000+10:00

Having found a way to access my web editor I have been able to update the Stena Nordica's page with excellent photos from Derry Walsh. However, I now have some publishing difficulties....!

Trying to work through these at the moment and hope to have the update online very soon.

Norman Trader on the Run

2011-06-11T14:59:00.001+10:00

The Norman Trader is now in service between Holyhead and Dublin while the Stena Adventurer overhauls at Birkenhead. The ship is seen arriving at Dublin with her first commercial sailing from Holyhead, 10th June 2011. Copyright: Gordon Hislip.

The Norman Trader at Holyhead

2011-06-09T21:48:00.007+10:00

The Norman Trader has completed her berthing trials at Holyhead and at Dublin and now awaits her entry into service on 10th June carrying freight only.

While the Stena Adventurer is off the HSS Stena Explorer will operate an extra daily round trip to Dun Laoghaire.

The ship is seen here alongside Holyhead's cruise terminal. © Ronnie Roberts

Norman Trader makes her Holyhead Debut

2011-06-08T17:21:00.002+10:00

Overhaul time for the Stena Adventurer and as Holyhead slept this morning her chartered replacement for the duration slipped into the port for berthing trials at T5. These completed it was off to Dublin on a slow passage for trials at the Stena berth there. The "Adventurer" stands down after her arrival from Dublin early hours of 10th June with the Norman Trader taking up service that afternoon.

New Harbour Master for Dun Laoghaire

2011-06-07T09:53:00.000+10:00

Congratulations to Capt Frank Allen who is to be the new harbour master at Dún Laoghaire Harbour. A native of Cork, Capt Allen has spent all his working life in shipping.

Best wishes also to his retiring predecessor Capt Simon Coate. Simon has done much to promote the harbour's activities, not least as a cruise terminal. A keen supporter of the Sealink-Holyhead site his contribution to the effiicent running of the harbour and its promotion as a national amenity has been invaluable.

Website Difficulties

2011-06-07T08:49:00.000+10:00

Experiencing some difficulties with the main Sealink-Holyhead at the moment which is preventing any form of update or edits. This in part is the reason behind this new blog which will at least maintain a presence while I consider what to do next with the main site.

The issue stems from Microsoft and the Expression Web 3 platform. When trying to launch the site - which has worked well for a year now - the error message "Installation License Error, please contact Microsoft Support". On doing this, Microsoft try to relieve me of $392 - almost double the cost of the program in the first place.

Reading their online support forums it is clear I am not alone with this problem and I am not confident of an immanent fix. It seems the problem is with the License Store installed on the computer by the program. Apart from one Windows laptop (on which the site is stored and edited) we are Mac users in my home and of course Expression Web does not work on Mac. I have re-installed Expression Web and a colleague's computer as a test and that works.

So the option is, buy a new Windows laptop - a rather drastic and expensive option. Or, seek a new editing program and point it at the existing site - so basically linking two web sites.

In the meantime, the current site is stable and will remain - I just can't add to it or edit it at the moment.

Speaking of the Saint Eloi...

2011-06-06T19:27:00.001+10:00

...mention of her below prompts me to share this view of her arriving at Salt Island in 1989. Photo by Capt Neville Lester who was waiting to join as chief officer. On the bridge wing are Capt John Sinnott and chief officer Dave Farrell.

The Stena Seafarer has been renamed ANT 1 whilst still laid up at Belfast

2011-06-06T08:53:00.001+10:00

Built in 1975 as the Union Melbourne (4,043 gross tonnage) the ship went straight onto a five-year charter to the Union Company for trans-Tasman service. She was subsequently re-chartered in 1978 to P&O Steam Navigation Co, London, for service between Fleetwood and Belfast until redelivered to owners in September 1980.

In 1980 she was renamed Union Trader before being further renamed Puma, was converted to carry passengers in 1987, and in 1998 was renamed European Seafarer. In 2004 she was renamed Stena Seafarer, by this time part of the Stena Line AB fleet, of 10,957 gross tonnage, and operating a Fleetwood to Larne service, together with the Stena Pioneer (14,426 gross tonnage, built 1975) and the Stena Leader (12,679 gross tonnage, built 1975).

There had long been talk of replacing these three 1975-built ferries with newer tonnage, but nothing had ever eventuated, and in December 2010 Stena announced that they were to close the service. The Stena Seafarer made the last sailing from Fleetwood to Larne on 24th December 2010, and then laid up at Belfast with her two consorts on the service awaiting sale, with scrapping looking to be a likely option in view of their age, although Stena Seafarer was subsequently used to carry out relief workings for other ferries undergoing routine drydockings and refits.

Recent Movements at Holyhead

2011-06-05T16:42:00.001+10:00

During my January visit to Holyhead I reflected on how quiet the once busy inner harbour had become. Once the centre of activity it has become something of a backwater - home to the HSS Stena Explorer and only occasional visitors.

A visitor to the town could be forgiven for thinking the port had seen better days.

But beyond, in the outer harbour, Holyhead is bustling with ship movements and apart from the usual ferry traffic sees plenty of activity with a variety of shipping as can be seen in these shots by Ronnie Roberts.

The Whitchampion can often be seen in Holyhead, but for the Expedition this was a first visit. She has the unmistakable profile of a car ferry and indeed some locals thought she looked rather like the Saint Eloi which saw service to Dun Laoghaire in 1989.

She is actually the former P&O Ferries' Dover-Boulogne ferry nf Tiger. Built in 1972 she was acquired by P&O for their Normandy Ferries operation in 1978 and remained in service through the takeover of P&O Ferries by Townsend Thoresen in 1985. Renamed Tiger - the nf stood for
Normandy Ferries - she continued in service until July 1986 when she was laid up for sale.

In November of that year she was acquired by Viking Line and after a major rebuild entered service between Mariehamn and Kapellskar as the Ålandsfärjan.

Viking Line sold the Ålandsfärjan to Gap Shipping in 2008 and during the following year she was converted by Aker Yards for her new cruising role, relaunching her owners' polar cruise program which had been halted due to the sinking of their previous ship of the same name.

Sealink-Holyhead: The Blog

2011-06-05T12:21:00.000+10:00

As the main Sealink-Holyhead web site continues to grow in popularity there is an increasing demand to update content more frequently. This unfortunately is not always possible due to time constraints and access to web editing while away from home.

This blog therefore seeks to provide related news, comment and photos worthy of immediate publication. It does not seek to replace the main site which will of course continue to grow. Rather it will complement it by carrying more frequent updates.