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Irish Ferries Celebrates 30 years link with Pembroke

Later this month, on 22nd May, Irish Ferries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its link with the Welsh port of Pembroke Dock.
 
The anniversary is one that underlines the important place which Pembroke holds within the overall Irish Ferries route network. Host port to two daily return sailings from Rosslare to Pembroke, operated by the company’s modern cruise ferry vessel ‘Isle of Inishmore’, Pembroke has formed part of the Irish Ferries route network since the 22nd May 1979 when the service between Pembroke and Rosslare was inaugurated by the then B&I Line company.
 
Pembroke Dock
Purpose built at a cost equivalent at the time to EUR8 million, the impressive new Pembroke Dock terminal was brought into operation in 1978 with a sailing of the mv ‘Connacht’, a vessel built in the Verolme Cork Dockyard at a cost of EUR18 million. Owned and operated by B&I Line, the Connacht was the most expensive vessel in the company’s fleet and was considered to be the most luxurious vessel on the Irish Sea at that time.
 
Before transferring operations to Pembroke, B&I Line had operated services between Swansea and Cork. Factors that influenced their move to Pembroke included passenger demand for a shorter sea crossing - circa 4 hours between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare compared with a sailing time of circa 10 hours between Swansea and Cork.
 
High Quality Service
Since 1979, Irish Ferries have operated a variety of ships on its Pembroke to Rosslare service. A major expansion took place in 1997 with the arrival of the ‘Isle of Innisfree’. This was followed in 2001 by the introduction of the present vessel ‘Isle of Inishmore’, the largest ship ever to use the Pembroke Dock terminal. Since then, the vessel has developed an excellent reputation for its high quality on-board services and reliability in all weathers – an important factor for the intensive Southern Corridor freight market.
 
The arrival of these new, larger ferries necessitated significant additional investment at Pembroke Dock where over EUR14 million was spent on port infrastructure and dredging, investment jointly funded by Irish Ferries and the Milford Haven Port Authority.
 
Referring to the very positive relationship which has existed between the company and Pembroke over the past three decades, Irish Ferries Marketing Director, Tony Kelly said ‘it would have been our hope that this proud achievement could have been celebrated at a time of rising freight and passenger traffic volumes. However, Irish Ferries is coping well in the face of the current economic downturn and has managed to stay ahead of the market with its excellent product in terms of the vessel employed on the route and the advantages which Pembroke offers to passengers and freight users alike ‘.
 
Expressing their appreciation for the support and service received from the officials and staff at Pembroke, Mr. Kelly said that, since the mid 1990’s, the company has been encouraged to invest in the Pembroke/Rosslare route and enterprises throughout the South of Ireland have benefited hugely as a result.
 
‘The predictability of Irish Ferries’ Pembroke / Rosslare service, along with the quality of service and a reputation for good value, has provided an excellent gateway for tourism and freight interests right across from the South East of England to the South West of Ireland’ Mr. Kelly said.
 
Irish Ferries was recently awarded Ferry Company of the Year 2008 by the Irish Travel Trade and also Best Ferry Company 2009 by Irish consumers in a recent on-line poll.
 
In 2008, Irish Ferries carried 1.5 million passengers, 380,000 cars and 241,000 freight vehicles on their four routes in and out of Ireland.
 
ENDS.

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