Swansea Cork ferry
Encyclopedia
The Swansea Cork ferry is a ferry route linking Swansea
in Wales
with Ringaskiddy
in County Cork
, Ireland
operated by Fastnet Line
. The service was previously operated by Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd between 1987 and 2006.
Ltd., an Irish-based company. The ferry operated all year round. The ten-hour journey across the Celtic Sea
was usually covered by an overnight sailing arriving in Ringaskiddy
early in the morning, sailing back to Swansea
during daytime in months July and August, and at nighttime the rest of the year. The service was operated by one passenger ferry which could accommodate cars, camper vans, and goods vehicles, and had on-board cabins.
Thirty staff in Swansea, 45 in Ireland and 120 ship staff were laid off when the company ceased operations after 2006. Press reports show that the loss of the passenger ferry service dealt a blow to the economies of both South West Wales
and the Cork
area in Ireland. Since Swansea Cork Ferries started operating the ferry service in 1987, the company brought 2,850,000 passengers and 700,000 cars into Cork. Tourism sources in West Cork
said that the ferry's loss resulted in a 30% drop in tourists coming into the region from Britain, particularly hitting hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and camping centres. The loss cost Ireland's Cork and Kerry
region an estimate £24.4m (€35 million) based on a study by University College Cork in 2007, with the west of Cork being particularly badly hit because its out-of-the-way pubs, restaurants and hotels not served by buses or trains relied heavily on car ferry users. In Swansea and South West Wales
the hotel, pub, restaurant and B&B trade has been hit by the loss of Irish visitors—an influx that in 2006 brought £65m to the Welsh economy. The route was also heavily used by English
and Europe
an tourists as a “relatively close to London” route to the Republic of Ireland, with many travellers stopping overnight in Swansea.
Following a year of campaigning, including work by some local politicians and other organisations including the bringbacktheswanseacorkferry campaign and West Cork Tourism, a passenger & freight ferry service will operate between Cork and Swansea from March 2010 run by a new company (Fastnet Line
), financed by a 3 million euro co-op 'Pledge' system, a bank loan and other investment capital.
. She was built in 1982 and had previously served routes in the Scandinavian peninsula
. The Julia has 10 decks with a capacity for approximately 440 cars and 30 freight vehicles, and 1,860 passengers. Passenger facilities include 300 passenger cabins, a cinema, a children's play area, restaurants and bars. MV Julia left Finland en-route for Cork on 17 September 2009, calling at the Port of Swansea for berthing trials along the way. She wintered in the Port of Cork before leaving in January 2010 for dry-docking, safety certification, and some minor modifications for compliance with Irish regulations in Swansea. The first voyage departed from Swansea to Ringaskiddy at 21:50 on Wednesday 10 March 2010.
On 3 November 2011, it was announced all services would be cancelled until April 2012, due to 'higher than expected fuel prices'.
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
with Ringaskiddy
Ringaskiddy
Ringaskiddy is a village south of Cork city, in County Cork, Ireland. Located across Cork harbour south from Cóbh, and connected to Cork city by the N28 road the village is now a major ferry port Port of Cork with passenger ferry services to France & the United Kingdom.Ringaskiddy has seen huge...
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
operated by Fastnet Line
Fastnet Line
Fastnet Line operate a passenger & freight ferry service from Ringaskiddy, Cork, Ireland to Swansea, Wales.-History:From 1987 to 2006, the Swansea Cork ferry was operated by Swansea Cork Ferries Limited, an Irish-based company. The service ceased operating after the 2006 season...
. The service was previously operated by Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd between 1987 and 2006.
History
From 1987 to 2006, the Swansea Cork ferry was operated by Swansea Cork FerriesSwansea Cork Ferries
Swansea Cork Ferries was a company that operated a RoRo service between Swansea and Cork from 1987 till 2006. The service is now operated by Fastnet Line.-History:...
Ltd., an Irish-based company. The ferry operated all year round. The ten-hour journey across the Celtic Sea
Celtic Sea
The Celtic Sea is the area of the Atlantic Ocean off the south coast of Ireland bounded to the east by Saint George's Channel; other limits include the Bristol Channel, the English Channel, and the Bay of Biscay, as well as adjacent portions of Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and Brittany...
was usually covered by an overnight sailing arriving in Ringaskiddy
Ringaskiddy
Ringaskiddy is a village south of Cork city, in County Cork, Ireland. Located across Cork harbour south from Cóbh, and connected to Cork city by the N28 road the village is now a major ferry port Port of Cork with passenger ferry services to France & the United Kingdom.Ringaskiddy has seen huge...
early in the morning, sailing back to Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
during daytime in months July and August, and at nighttime the rest of the year. The service was operated by one passenger ferry which could accommodate cars, camper vans, and goods vehicles, and had on-board cabins.
Cessation in 2006
The service ceased operating after the 2006 season. After disposing of their most recent vessel (the MV Superferry) and failing to find a suitable replacement, Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd announced that they would not be operating the service during the 2007 summer season. There was no service during 2008 or 2009 either.Thirty staff in Swansea, 45 in Ireland and 120 ship staff were laid off when the company ceased operations after 2006. Press reports show that the loss of the passenger ferry service dealt a blow to the economies of both South West Wales
South West Wales
South West Wales is a region of Wales. A definition consisting of the unitary authorities of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire is used by a number of government agencies and private organisations including:*BBC...
and the Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
area in Ireland. Since Swansea Cork Ferries started operating the ferry service in 1987, the company brought 2,850,000 passengers and 700,000 cars into Cork. Tourism sources in West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
said that the ferry's loss resulted in a 30% drop in tourists coming into the region from Britain, particularly hitting hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and camping centres. The loss cost Ireland's Cork and Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
region an estimate £24.4m (€35 million) based on a study by University College Cork in 2007, with the west of Cork being particularly badly hit because its out-of-the-way pubs, restaurants and hotels not served by buses or trains relied heavily on car ferry users. In Swansea and South West Wales
South West Wales
South West Wales is a region of Wales. A definition consisting of the unitary authorities of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire is used by a number of government agencies and private organisations including:*BBC...
the hotel, pub, restaurant and B&B trade has been hit by the loss of Irish visitors—an influx that in 2006 brought £65m to the Welsh economy. The route was also heavily used by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an tourists as a “relatively close to London” route to the Republic of Ireland, with many travellers stopping overnight in Swansea.
Campaign for reinstatement
Due to frustration with the ferry service not being reinstated, two local businessmen in West Cork started a campaign and website in April 2008 to highlight the impact of the continuing lack of the Ferry service, www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com, later superseded by a new site at www.peoplesferry.com. The old site featured an online e-petition where people affected by the suspension of the ferry could make their views known, and the new site carries up-to-date, (reliable), news of the new ferry service, plus a history of the campaign.Following a year of campaigning, including work by some local politicians and other organisations including the bringbacktheswanseacorkferry campaign and West Cork Tourism, a passenger & freight ferry service will operate between Cork and Swansea from March 2010 run by a new company (Fastnet Line
Fastnet Line
Fastnet Line operate a passenger & freight ferry service from Ringaskiddy, Cork, Ireland to Swansea, Wales.-History:From 1987 to 2006, the Swansea Cork ferry was operated by Swansea Cork Ferries Limited, an Irish-based company. The service ceased operating after the 2006 season...
), financed by a 3 million euro co-op 'Pledge' system, a bank loan and other investment capital.
New ferry
After a long process of negotiation, including approval by the Finnish courts, it was announced in mid-September 2009 that the ship to run the new service, MS Julia, had been purchased for Fastnet LineFastnet Line
Fastnet Line operate a passenger & freight ferry service from Ringaskiddy, Cork, Ireland to Swansea, Wales.-History:From 1987 to 2006, the Swansea Cork ferry was operated by Swansea Cork Ferries Limited, an Irish-based company. The service ceased operating after the 2006 season...
. She was built in 1982 and had previously served routes in the Scandinavian peninsula
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. The Julia has 10 decks with a capacity for approximately 440 cars and 30 freight vehicles, and 1,860 passengers. Passenger facilities include 300 passenger cabins, a cinema, a children's play area, restaurants and bars. MV Julia left Finland en-route for Cork on 17 September 2009, calling at the Port of Swansea for berthing trials along the way. She wintered in the Port of Cork before leaving in January 2010 for dry-docking, safety certification, and some minor modifications for compliance with Irish regulations in Swansea. The first voyage departed from Swansea to Ringaskiddy at 21:50 on Wednesday 10 March 2010.
On 3 November 2011, it was announced all services would be cancelled until April 2012, due to 'higher than expected fuel prices'.
External links
- Bring Back the Swansea Cork Ferry (campaign to reinstate the Ferry service)
- Fastnet Line (official site of new ferry operator)
- irish-ferries-enthusiasts.com: Swansea Cork Ferries
- The Rectory Swansea Cork Ferry Blog