P&O Irish Sea to boost fleet

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.