STENA LYNX III arrived back in Rosslare Europort on April 27 at 15:15, following winter lay-up in Dublin and refit at A&P Falmouth. She is expected back in service on May 14, 2009.

WINCHAM PRESERVATION SOCIETY

It has been announced that the All Leisure Group has acquired the small cruse ship HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS following the recent announcement that Hebridean International Cruises had gone into administration following the sale of HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT. The following press release being issued:

All Leisure group plc, which operates Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery is pleased to announce that it has purchased the unique small cruise ship, HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS. All Leisure group plc is keen to ensure that the HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS will continue to offer distinctive cruises around the Scottish Highlands and islands and through the Norwegian fjords and will continue to operate from its head office in Skipton.

Guests and Travel Agents will be contacted during the next few days with further information.

Lord Sterling - Chairman, Hebridean Island Cruises comments:

"For many years I have admired this highly respected cruise ship and know that it has a tremendous following of people who enjoy exploring our beautiful coastline. I am delighted to have been invited to become Chairman of this highly respected brand, and am pleased to confirm that these cruises will continue to operate as in the past. It is important to preserve well-established and much loved British cruise lines; this latest news underscores our commitment to preserving the best of our shipping heritage."

Roger Allard - Chairman, All Leisure group plc comments:

"We have been looking to expand our specialist small ship cruise fleet and I welcome HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS into our group, enabling us to expand our range of special interest destination cruise holidays. We recognise that the Captain, officers and crew of HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS, along with the long-serving and dedicated office staff in Skipton, provide a unique cruising experience, which is cherished by her loyal following."

Background

Ownership of Ireland's biggest ferry group, Irish Continental Group (ICG)  which trades as Irish Ferries, has been up for grabs for about two years,  with two bids having been tabled for the company in 2007.

Last month the Takeover Panel told ICG chief executive Eamonn Rothwell and  the Moonduster consortium headed by former IAWS boss Philip Lynch, that they  have until next Monday to table another offer for the ferry company or face a 12-month ban on making another approach.

Moonduster entered talks with former rival Mr Rothwell in December in an effort to break a year-long stalemate by proposing a joint offer for the group, which could value it in the region of €380m. The proposed offer could be in the range of €11 to €15 a share, but at least one US-based minority shareholder has said it would not be prepared to accept even the higher end of that scale.

Property developer Liam Carroll spent an average of €24 a share two years ago amassing a 29.8pc stake in ICG, and may be unwilling to take a significant haircut on his investment. However, in the current climate he could also be content to get his hands on ready cash.

Last year ICG reported revenue of €343m, down 3.6pc on 2007, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell 17.7pc to €66m. It carried 1.46 million passengers during the year, down from 1.56 million in 2007.

[IRISH INDEPENDENT]

The BBC News reports that the Royal Navy dockyard at Plymouth is to have all of its frigate warships transferred to Portsmouth. Portsmouth is set to become the home of almost all the Navy's warships.  Portsmouth had been expected to lose out to Plymouth as part of an MoD review to cut over-capacity and costs. An MoD source said it "makes sense" to have all the Navy's frigates and destroyers in Portsmouth, as the city was home to the fleet headquarters.

The review, which began in 2006, looked at the three UK Navy bases in Plymouth, Portsmouth and Faslane.

DEVONPORT was founded in 1691 and employs 4,800 and is the sole refitting base foe Vanguard nuclear submarines.

BBC South has learned of the decision ahead of an official announcement by the MoD, expected in the next few weeks.  At present Portsmouth is home to the Navy's two operational aircraft carriers, six frigates and seven destroyers.

MoD sources have told the BBC that 11 frigates currently based at Plymouth's Devonport dockyard will move to Portsmouth as a result of the review.

The MoD source said: "Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy and it will be the home of the operational fleet.  "It makes sense to have all the navy's frigates and destroyers in Portsmouth as the city is already the home of fleet headquarters and has the infrastructure to support operational ships.

'Efficient and logical'

"The changes to be announced are the most efficient and most logical way of using Britain's three naval bases."

The MoD's official response in a statement said: "Work on the Maritime Change Programme (MCP) is ongoing but no final decisions on the programme have been taken and no date for an announcement has been planned."

Portsmouth's naval dockyard currently employs more than 17,000 people and is home to about two-thirds of the Royal Navy's surface ships.

Devonport, which in area is western Europe's largest naval shipyard, employs 4,800 people and is the UK's sole refitting base for Vanguard submarines, which provide the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent with Trident nuclear missiles.

It is understood Devonport will retain its submarines and amphibious assault ships as well as re-fit work.

Nuclear submarine base Faslane is expected to be largely unaffected by the review.

PORTSMOUTH  was founded in 1194.  Employs 17,200 and is home to almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy's surface ships

Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth South and a member of the Defence Select Committee, said: "It's going to be great news for Portsmouth."

He said it "put into place the final part of the jigsaw" regarding the Navy's shore-based future over the next 25 years, "possibly longer".

"It will mean that virtually the whole of the surface fleet, including the two new carriers, will be port-based here in Portsmouth.

"I think it's great news for the city as a whole, super news for the naval base."

He said there had been a "cloud of despair right across the city" when the naval base review had been first announced in 2006 and there had been speculation that nearly 20,000 jobs could be lost. [BBC]

However, as would be expected the news has not been well received in Devon and Cornwall with local politicians demanding that the MoD reveal the future plans for the Devonport base.

Following a recent meeting with representatives of the local authorities and  others which have put forward proposals for the future of the ferry and freight link between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly – the Route Partnership – the local MP, Mr Andrew George, will attempt to bring together groups of objectors and the proposer and supporters of the plans for  Penzance Harbour for what he has described as a "considered, evidence based and rigorous opportunity for discussion and debate."

Mr George had called for a public meeting in September last year. The Route Partnership put on a further public exhibition in January this year.  Following the recent course of events, Mr George believes that a seminar between the key representative bodies and individuals would provide the best way forward. He has offered to chair the event. He is currently brokering an  agreement between both sides to bring them together.Mr George said, "Regional Development Agency and the Department for

Transport have commissioned an evaluation of options – ‘marine verification – which will look at matters including the choice of vessel and shore side infrastructure. The Route Partnership has also commissioned a review of the scoring of the original Penzance Harbour options.

"Whilst the planning application itself will go through the required formal procedure before being considered at a future planning committee under the new Cornwall Council and after the election of new members of Council, I hope that the ‘seminar’ will provide a good opportunity to scrutinise some of the alternatives proposed by objectors to the Penzance Harbour plans. By that time, I hope that the Route Partnership will have completed and published its options and evaluation reviews.

"I appreciate that by attending the seminar the Route Partnership will not be bound to accept any alternative. I know that many of us would appreciate a thorough and considered assessment of the merit or otherwise of the various options/alternatives which have been presented since the Route Partnership exhibited their proposals."

Further information regarding the arrangements for the seminar will be publicised in due course. [Cornwall 24]

It appears the reason why the MOONDANCE is being used instead of the also spare CLIPPER RACER is because that vessel is shortly beginning a 3-month charter to Balearia.

On 8 April 2009, Colin Peter Dempster and Fiona Livingstone Taylor, of Ernst & Young LLP, were appointed Joint Administrators of Hebridean International Cruises Limited and Leisure and Marine Holdings Limited. The affairs, business and property of the companies are being managed by the Joint Administrators who contract as agents of the companies and without personal liability.

Information for customers who have booked a cruise on the HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS:

The administrators recognise the value of the Princess business and have taken steps to secure funding to continue its sailing schedule as planned. The Princess is therefore continuing to trade whilst we pursue a sale of the business as a going concern. Consequently, HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS cruises are not being cancelled. The Companies will continue to take booking enquiries.

Information for customers who have booked a cruise on the HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT

On 7 April 2009, the sale of the HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT was completed. In March 2009, all customers of the HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT were contacted to advise them of the forthcoming sale and were informed that a full refund would be given to those who had booked cruises on the HEBRIDEAN  SPIRIT.

At a packed meeting of co-op shareholders in the West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen this week it was voted unanimously to form a formal co-op, and elected officers for that co-op.

The shareholders also heard presentations on the current situation with investment and the new ship - and gave the go-ahead for the purchase of the JULIA.

The new company (Fastnetline) has opened a website where people who would like to book on the new service can register their interest. [www.fastnetline.com]

STENA LINE

Fast ferry services over the Irish Sea could be disrupted as a union threatens strike action over job cuts.

Last week it was announced that Stena Line was to reduce its dockside personnel at Dun Laoghaire from 64 to 46 after cutting back the fast ferry service from Holyhead last autumn.

Now the Siptu workers union is warning that HSS STENA EXPLORER sailings could be affected by industrial action over the redundancies as they ballot members at Stena Line.

In response Stena said it aimed to engage with unions and the Labour Relations Commission to reach an agreement.

They said the redundancies, which do not affect any staff in Holyhead, were required to ensure the fast ferry service was brought back into profitability.

A spokesman said: "We would just like to reassure our customers that all services are running as normal.

"We trust this situation will remain as we attempt to engage with the unions and move the process forward."

As recently as 2006 the HSS STENA EXPLORER operated three round trips a day between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire but the schedule has now been reduced to one daily return trip.

The company says this reduction and the fact the HSS STENA EXPLORER is currently running at a loss meant cuts have been necessary.

Stena Line said it hoped to achieve any reductions through voluntary redundancy but could not rule out compulsory redundancies.

Vic Goodwin, route and HR director for Stena Line, said: "Our route between Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead has traded in a loss making situation for the last few years and with the general economic downturn now facing us we must take action to address these issues."

But the union is claiming that an offer to relocate staff to Dublin port instead of making staff redundant is not being honoured. Siptu warned severe disruption to travel was inevitable unless an agreement was made.

[www.theonlinemail.co.uk]

TORPOINT FERRY

LYNHER II was taken out of service on Friday April 03, 2025 for refit at 09:00. She will undergo refit at A&P Falmouth and is expected to be out of service for 30 days.

OSCAR WILDE is reported have had a minor collision with the linkspan at Cherbourg on April 03, 2025 as she arrived from Rosslare causing some damage to the bow door. The vessel was forced to turn and discharge through the stern door.

ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY

SNAEFELL undertook berthing trials at the Albert Quay ro/ro ramp at Belfast on the morning of Friday April 03. This year sailings from Belfast which commence on April 05 will use part of the former Stena Line terminal at Albert Quay.

The former Belfast terminal was unsuited to handling the MANANNAN which enters service later this year and is scheduled to provide sailings on the Belfast route for TT and Manx Grand Prix festivals.

Seaside Shipping is challenging the the Isle of Man Government to open access to the Douglas Harbour linkspans and break the IoMSPCo monopoly on ro/ro services.