Report by Kirsten Bowling
P&O Irish Sea
is set to boost its fleet with the introduction of a £35 million fast ferry on
its Larne to Cairnryan route.
The new ferry, yet
to be named, will join the fleet in May 2002 and will be a sister ship to the
existing European Causeway, which currently operates three return sailings a
day.
P&O Irish Sea
chairman Graeme Dunlop said: “Larne-Cairnryan is one of P&O’s key
Irish Sea routes and we have invested more than £50 million in this route over
the past 18 months. We are hoping the new ferry will provide a tremendous boost
to both tourist and commercial traffic.”
P&O Irish Sea
provides the shortest and fastest Irish Sea crossings with its current two
vessels, European Causeway and the SuperStar Express, which have a one-hour
crossing time.