Irish Ferries Announce Newbuild for UK/Ireland/France

[Cabin-boy]

I'm sure the Germans have deep pockets right now to generate goodwill for the second ship due on the blocks (next year I think). Plus the local hotels are hardly likely to complain, out of season, about the extra business. Ed. 

[kgst]

Extract from trading update published today

The W.B. Yeats, currently under construction by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesselschaft & Co. KG (“FSG”) completed its sea-trials in early November and is undergoing final delivery adjustments. FSG have advised ICG that the W.B. Yeats will be ready for delivery during early December. ICG would like to apologise once again for any disruption caused to our tourism and freight customers due to the delay in FSG delivering the ship, a delay that was an extraordinary event totally outside the control of ICG. FSG are contracted to deliver a second new vessel during 2020.

[Cabin-boy]

She was floated out on the 19th January so it will have taken almost 11 months to assemble her upper structure, correct the issues, test her and get customer approval. Does anyone know if either of the previous ferries they built (including one for Calmac) over-ran or experienced any significant issues during construction? Ed. 

[hhvferry]

The most commercial complex ships FSG built before WBY were the four for BC Ferries and they were all delivered on time with times of typically eight or nine months between keel laying and delivery.

[Cabin-boy]

Has the mystery saboteur struck again? 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46394989

And, meanwhile, France is still threatening a new revolution. President Macron has taken his wife down to Buenos Aires for the G20 summit and appears to have invited two of his former girlfriends along too. 😀

Ed

 

[giloine]

🤣

[Cabin-boy]

Our fellow enthusiasts over at the Irish Ferries Forum are suggesting that there will be no movement until next week now as she still needs to be bunkered. I personally think the yard would prefer to have her gone by the time Honfleur launches on Thursday to avoid any comparisons and allow BF to get their publicity photos (from the shore and by drone - weather permitting) without having W B Yeats in shot. Ed. 

[Cabin-boy]

W B Yeats is currently being moved, with the help of two tugs to the other side of the pier (presumably to make room for Honfleur once she's launched on Friday). The Irish Ferries Forum (quoting the German Ferries Forum - you see, European cooperation is sometimes possible) are now suggesting that she will leave Flensburg on Sunday. Ed. 

[Fine Whine]

Et voilà Ed

 

[des]

Looks like she has been handed over. http://www.ise.ie/app/announcementDetails.aspx?ID=13901658

[Fine Whine]

I heard just now from a very reliable source in Dublin that the W.B. Yeats was handed over to Irish Ferries today. The following press release is on their website so it would appear to be true, we’re now waiting to see what fate awaits the Oscar Wilde, apparently there will be an announcement in a few days.

Chris

 

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A WORLD OF WONDER AWAITS AS IRISH FERRIES PREPARES FOR THE CHRISTMAS DELIVERY OF THE W.B. YEATS

12 DEC 2018 

This Christmas, look forward to the gift of summer sun and sail to France in style, as Irish Ferries prepares to celebrate the arrival of the majestic W.B. Yeats. Expected to dock in Dublin next week, this magnificent ship will provide passengers with a unique and memorable cruise-style travel experience.  

Offering up to four sailings a week directly from Dublin to France, this flagship cruise ferry will travel 125,000 nautical miles per annum, which is the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe nearly 6 times. Sailing from mid-March to the end of September, Irish Ferries will be the only operator providing customers with a direct crossing from the convenient Dublin Port to the perennially popular holiday destination.

The W. B. Yeats will afford superior comfort to 1,800 passengers offering 440 spacious cabins, including luxury suites with stunning private balcony sea views and a dedicated butler service.  Styled throughout in natural tones, rich furnishings are accented by marble, steel and state-of-the-art lighting, creating a relaxed and contemporary atmosphere on every deck.  Décor in the passenger areas exudes understated elegance, illustrated by famous works of art and literature from Yeats and other well-known artists, while downloadable audio extracts from the famous poet’s celebrated catalogue provide the backdrop to a unique walking tour.

From refined accommodation to fine dining, the literary theme continues throughout the ship, as guests are invited to indulge in innovative cuisine in the Lady Gregory Restaurant, enjoy a casual snack in the Maud Gonne Bar & Lounge or immerse themselves in the magic of movies and family fun entertainment at The Abbey and The Peacock cinemas.  Spoilt for choice with a host of bars and restaurants on board, as well as great chances to shop all the latest brands, the holiday truly begins the moment passengers’ step on-board.

Speaking ahead of the arrival, Andrew Sheen, Managing Director of Irish Ferries said, “We’re delighted to bring the W.B. Yeats and its superior luxury to Dublin. The introduction of this magnificent new ship offers holidaymakers unrivalled comfort with direct route access from the convenient and centrally located Dublin Port to France. Irish Ferries look forward to welcoming passengers onboard the W.B. Yeats to sail in style in 2019.”

Consumer Marketing & Sales Director for Irish Ferries, Nora Costello continued, “Whether it’s a gourmet break away in a picturesque French village, or a seaside adventure for all the family, we’re giving our customers the chance to enjoy the freedom of unlimited luggage and the comfort of travelling with their own car.”

Holidaymakers will enjoy 10% off when they book a summer sailing from Dublin to France on www.irishferries.com before January 15th, 2019.

#SailinStyle

Image in the article

[Fine Whine]

2 minutes ago, des said:

Looks like she has been handed over. http://www.ise.ie/app/announcementDetails.aspx?ID=13901658

Damn, you beat me to it Des!

[Cabin-boy]

35 minutes ago, Fine Whine said:

Damn, you beat me to it Des!

It's not a race. What's a couple of minutes compared to 8 months? 😀 Ed. 

[jonno]

4 hours ago, Fine Whine said:

we’re now waiting to see what fate awaits the Oscar Wilde, apparently there will be an announcement in a few days.

It'll be a shame if she was to leave the fleet, proper cruise ferry and she's no older than the Newcastle ships. I've flirted with her since her Kiel days. I wonder what they'd replace her with at Rosslare, surely not Epsilon?

[Ryan_H]

Oscar Wilde is a lovely ship indeed, or at least she was when I sailed on her back in 2008. She would suit many a longer route from the UK, such as say, Newcastle-Bergen  

Will W.B. Yeats be on Holyhead-Dublin this Winter?

[nottingham]

7 minutes ago, Ryan_H said:

Oscar Wilde is a lovely ship indeed, or at least she was when I sailed on her back in 2008. She would suit many a longer route from the UK, such as say, Newcastle-Bergen  

Will W.B. Yeats be on Holyhead-Dublin this Winter?

Replacement for Connemara?

[Buzzbee]

32 minutes ago, Ryan_H said:

Oscar Wilde is a lovely ship indeed, or at least she was when I sailed on her back in 2008. She would suit many a longer route from the UK, such as say, Newcastle-Bergen  

Will W.B. Yeats be on Holyhead-Dublin this Winter?

Think she starts Holyhead-Dublin in March before moving to Dublin-Cherbourg in the summer.

[neilcvx]

Apparently she’s starting at the end of January doing the Holyhead route.

[Andy]

W.D. Yeats pictured in Flensburg today. Due to depart on Sunday for Dublin. 

[David Williams]

The front is a bit ugly, and the Honfleur looks almost identical !

[captjack]

Yes the front isn’t pretty at all.

[des]

On 12/12/2018 at 19:28, Fine Whine said:

while downloadable audio extracts from the famous poet’s celebrated catalogue provide the backdrop to a unique walking tour.

(Quoting Irish "but flagged elsewhere" Ferries and not Fine Whine)

The Pont had an audio tour from Day 1 if I recall correctly (and a book, a copy of which we own). 

[TonyMWeaver]

'W.B. Yeats' has left Flensburg, bound for Cherbourg. Arrival currently scheduled for Wednesday at around 02:00.

Images here: 

 

[neilcvx]

This was shared on Facebook earlier some good interior shots in the video.

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/Flensburger-Werft-uebergibt-neue-Riesenfaehre,wbyeats102.html

[Cabin-boy]

She is currently pottering around just south of Skagen, presumably waiting for space to take on bunkers. Ed.