Seatruck Ferries
Encyclopedia
Seatruck Ferries is a UK based freight-only ferry
company which commenced services in 1996. It is part of the Clipper Group
, a shipping company based in The Bahamas
. The company operates out of five ports on the Irish Sea
, including Heysham
and Liverpool
.
Seatruck was established in 1996, operating one ship, , between Heysham and Warrenpoint. She was joined in April 1997 by sister ship , which was also operated on the Heysham to Warrenpoint service.
In 2002, the company was acquired by Clipper Group
, a shipping company based in The Bahamas
.
In 2005, Seatruck Ferries ordered their first new ships, five "P Series" ro-ro freight ferries, however only four were built. These vessels were named Clipper Point, Clipper Panorama, Clipper Pace and Clipper Pennant. All four vessels were built by Spanish shipyard Astilleros de Huelva.
In January 2008, the company's pioneering ship, Riverdance, ran aground in Blackpool.. Attempts to refloat the vessel failed and she was broken up in situ in the summer of 2008. In March 2008, Clipper Point became the company's first new ferry, entering service on the Heysham to Warrenpoint route. "Panorama" followed in January 2009, "Pace" in March 2009 and "Pennant" in October 2009.
In March 2008, the same month that Clipper Point entered service, Seatruck Ferries placed an order for four RoRo 2200 ferries to be built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft
in Germany.
The first two of these vessels launched in late 2011, named Seatruck Progress and Seatruck Power. "Progress" is due to enter service in December 2011, whilst "Power" will join the fleet in early 2012. The remaining two ships will join the fleet before mid-2012.
and one currently on charter to the company. Four brand new ro-ro freight ferries are due to join the fleet between December 2011 and June 2012.
The newest vessel in the Seatruck fleet as of November 2011 is the , which entered service in October 2009.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
company which commenced services in 1996. It is part of the Clipper Group
Clipper Group
Clipper Group is a shipping company based in the Bahamas which owns and manages a fleet of 250 ships worldwide. In 2002 Clipper Group acquired full ownership of Irish Sea ferry operator Seatruck Ferries.-Subsidiaries:...
, a shipping company based in The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
. The company operates out of five ports on the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, including Heysham
Heysham
Heysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
and Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
History
In 2002, the company was acquired by Clipper Group
Clipper Group
Clipper Group is a shipping company based in the Bahamas which owns and manages a fleet of 250 ships worldwide. In 2002 Clipper Group acquired full ownership of Irish Sea ferry operator Seatruck Ferries.-Subsidiaries:...
, a shipping company based in The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
.
In 2005, Seatruck Ferries ordered their first new ships, five "P Series" ro-ro freight ferries, however only four were built. These vessels were named Clipper Point, Clipper Panorama, Clipper Pace and Clipper Pennant. All four vessels were built by Spanish shipyard Astilleros de Huelva.
In January 2008, the company's pioneering ship, Riverdance, ran aground in Blackpool.. Attempts to refloat the vessel failed and she was broken up in situ in the summer of 2008. In March 2008, Clipper Point became the company's first new ferry, entering service on the Heysham to Warrenpoint route. "Panorama" followed in January 2009, "Pace" in March 2009 and "Pennant" in October 2009.
In March 2008, the same month that Clipper Point entered service, Seatruck Ferries placed an order for four RoRo 2200 ferries to be built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft
Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft
Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft is a German shipbuilding company located in Flensburg. The company is trading as Flensburger and commonly abbrevated FSG.-History:...
in Germany.
The first two of these vessels launched in late 2011, named Seatruck Progress and Seatruck Power. "Progress" is due to enter service in December 2011, whilst "Power" will join the fleet in early 2012. The remaining two ships will join the fleet before mid-2012.
Routes
Seatruck currently operate four routes on the Irish Sea, serving five ports.- HeyshamHeyshamHeysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
- WarrenpointWarrenpointWarrenpoint is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the northern shore of Carlingford Lough and is separated from the Republic of Ireland by a narrow strait. The town sprang up within the townland of Ringmackilroy... - HeyshamHeyshamHeysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
- LarneLarneLarne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is... - HeyshamHeyshamHeysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
- Dublin - LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
- Dublin
Current fleet
Seatruck currently operate nine vessels, two of which are on charter to Northlink FerriesNorthlink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. NorthLink Ferries is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, whose sole shareholder is the Scottish Government.-History:...
and one currently on charter to the company. Four brand new ro-ro freight ferries are due to join the fleet between December 2011 and June 2012.
The newest vessel in the Seatruck fleet as of November 2011 is the , which entered service in October 2009.
| Image | Ship | Built (Commissioned) |
Route | Truck Capacity |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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(February 2011) |
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On charter to Seatruck | |
| |
(October 2009) |
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| (March 2009) |
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| (January 2009) |
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(October 2009) |
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| (March 2008) |
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| (October 2005) |
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Formerly named Challenge | ||
| (October 2007) |
|
|
On charter to Northlink Ferries Northlink Ferries NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. NorthLink Ferries is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, whose sole shareholder is the Scottish Government.-History:... Formerly named Clipper Racer |
||
| (October 2008) |
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|
On charter to Northlink Ferries Northlink Ferries NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. NorthLink Ferries is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, whose sole shareholder is the Scottish Government.-History:... Formerly named Shield |
||
| |
(February 2012) |
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Under construction, fitting out | |
| |
(December 2011) |
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Under construction, fitting out | |
| |
"Yard No. 751" | (? 2012) |
|
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Under construction, launch Jan 2012 |
| |
"Yard No. 752" | (? 2012) |
|
|
On order |
Former fleet
These are vessels that have previously been operated or chartered by Seatruck.| Image | Ship | Built (Commissioned) |
Route | Truck Capacity |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
(February 2008) |
|
|
Sold and converted to cable layer. | |
| |
(September 2007) |
|
|
Chartered 2007, to P&O Irish Sea P&O Irish Sea P&O Irish Sea was the trading name of P&O Ferries in the Irish Sea from 1998 - 2010. It has now merged back to being P&O Ferries.-History:P&O Irish Sea was formed in 1998, following the merger of the Cairnryan-based service of P&O European Ferries Ltd and Pandoro... in 2008 |
|
| (April 2004) |
|
|
Short-term charter in 2002. | ||
| |
(April 2008) |
|
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Short-term charter in 2008 | |
 |
(January 2008) |
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Short term charter in 2008 | |
| (April 1997) |
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Sold in 2010 | ||
| |
(February 2008) |
|
|
Short-term charter in 2008 | |
| |
(July 1996) |
|
|
Beached at Blackpool in Jan 2008, later scrapped on site | |