GeoffHamer

The Lymington-Yarmouth timetable for next summer has been published and shows three ships running at weekends from 30 March to 6 September, with sailings every 40 minutes instead of every hour. https://www.wightlink.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/timetable-lymington-to-yarmouth.pdf

The Setubal-Troia service is now run by Atlantic Ferries who had two new car ferries, the PATO REAL and ROLA DO MAR, in 2007, and two passenger catamarans, the GARÇA BRANCA and ROAZ CORVINEIRO, in 2008. http://www.atlanticferries.pt/en/

The first ship is for Holyhead-Dublin where Stena's present ships, the "Adventurer" and "Superfast X" don't have names with local connections. The new ships are supposed to be flexible so would not have names tied to a specific route, and I guess the name begins "STENA E" because they are referred to as "E-flexers".

According to Brittany Ferries' website, the HONFLEUR will have 257 cabins, compared with 220 on the NORMANDIE and 224 on the MONT ST MICHEL. So, on night crossings, the HONFLEUR should be able to carry more. Her daytime capacity is given as 1680 which is probably a more realistic figure than the 2000-odd for the present Caen ships. How often do the MONT ST MICHEL or NORMANDIE carry over 1680 passengers ?

The bus fare is €1.50 and you can buy tickets on the bus.

According to the Santander local 'El Diario Montañes', there were 198 passengers, 94 cars, 17 motorbikes and 7 lorries on the first trip. There is a video of the inaugural arrival. http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/cantabria/primer-desembarco-irlandes-20180510193806-nt.html

The diversion to Brest seems to have caused by union protests. http://www.letelegramme.fr/economie/brittany-ferries-premiers-remous-a-l-arrivee-du-connemara-08-05-2018-11952689.php

Note that France is one of the few European countries where 26 December is a normal working day, not a public holiday.

The first sailing still advertised for the CONNEMARA is from Cork to Roscoff on 7 May.

Irish Ferries said it was contacting 2300 customers. That means 2300 bookings, not 2300 passengers. If a family of four has a booking, only one person needs to be contacted. https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/news-listing/Important-announcement-re-wbyeats/

So the freight sailing from Cork to Roscoff on 30 April is an error.

According to the Puerto de Santander website, the CONNEMARA is due to be there until 2 May. http://www.puertosantander.es/cas/buques_puerto.aspx

The local 'El Diario Montañes' reports that the delay in starting the service is because the ship will be late arriving at the Astander shipyard. The opening of he new route coincides with an exhibition in Santander to mark the 40th anniversary of Brittany Ferries' service to Spain. http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/cantabria/estreno-ruta-cork-20180418205419-nt.html

Her first advertised sailing is now from Santander on 3 May. http://www.brittanyferries.ie/ferry-routes/ireland-spain-ferries/cork-santander/timetable

I don't think this proposed ferry service has anything to do with the US company. Seaborne Freight (UK) Ltd was incorporated in 2017. The directors include Glenn Dudley and Jean-Michel Copyans who both worked for My Ferry Link. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10709921