Times are tough for the sector, but ferry companies are determined to keep investing in new vessels. Jane Archer reports
Ferry operators are continuing to invest in new and upgraded vessels despite fears the growth of the past two years is disappearing in the credit crunch.
Stena Line sales manager UK and Ireland Dermot Cairns said carryings are 4%-5% down this year, while Irish Ferries is halving fast-ferry services between Holyhead and Dublin Port as demand is down and fuel costs are up.
From November 3, there will be one return crossing a day on Dublin Swift, except between December 19 and January 5.
Brittany Ferries, meanwhile, has put a new route to Spain on ice until things look more positive.
It hopes to stimulate demand by offering €50 cash-back to clients taking a seven-night self-catering holiday before December 31.Despite the tough economic climate, Stena Line is investing millions in its ports and ferries. Cairns said: “We have always invested in difficult times and we always will. It means we will be better placed when the upturn comes. Our long-term view is that there is a tremendous future in our routes.”
Stena Line sails from Stranraer to Belfast, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire and Harwich to the Hook of Holland.
Cairns added: “We believe people are getting annoyed with the airline charges. They want to pay one fare, be able to take what luggage they want. They want good facilities and to know they are appreciated. Ferries deliver that.
“People will still want to travel next year, but will look more closely at prices, so we have to offer a value-for-money experience.”
New facilities
This year, Stena spent £2 million on HSS Voyager fast ferry sailing between Stranraer and Belfast, doubling the size of the Stena Plus business lounge from 80 to 160 seats and installing leather seats, wi-fi and a Stena Plus family area.
Stena has also added a New York City Nails salon, expanded the kids’ area, and added a teen section with computers with internet access.
Cairns said: “We wanted to see customer reaction to these changes before introducing them on our other HSS craft, but I hope we will now get them on the Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire route as Stena Plus is so popular.”
The Stena Plus lounge costs £14 one way, which includes free tea, coffee and soft drinks, priority boarding and disembarkation.
Stena also invested £37 million in a new terminal at the port of Belfast in June, and is building two 60,000-ton ferries for the Harwich-Hook of Holland route. The vessels, for 1,200 passengers and 728 cars, will enter service in 2010.
Meanwhile, Isle of Wight ferry operator Wightlink is investing £57 million in new vessels for the Lymington-Yarmouth route.
The first, Wight Light, arrived in Lymington on September 1 after journeying from its shipyard in Croatia. The second, Wight Sky, arrived at the end of September. Both enter service this autumn, with the third due to start sailing for the company in spring 2009.Wightlink is also building new-generation catamarans to replace the FastCat fleet on the Portsmouth-Ryde route next summer, and spending £17.5 million to improve efficiency and value on the Portsmouth-Fishbourne car ferry service in the face of an expected 40% increase in traffic by 2020.
