Ally

Date: 1 Jun 2007
Source: icNorthWales

Stena Line is telling p***engers it has no plans to axe its fast ferry crossings from the port of Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire in Ireland because of escalating fuel costs.

The re***urance comes just a day after company chief executive Gunnar Blomdahl said Stena would have to consider withdrawing all its high speed ferries if oil prices rose from the recent level of $70 a barrel to $100.

The ferry operator has already slashed the frequency of sailings by the HSS Stena Explorer on the Irish Sea route from the Welsh port and wants Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company to cut harbour dues.

The Explorer, which can carry 1,500 p***engers, makes the crossing in 99 minutes, about half the time taken for the conventional ferry Stena Adventurer on the Holyhead to Dublin crossing.

But Stena Line has already withdrawn a high-speed vessel from a North Sea route and says about 10 high speed ferries are up for sale in Europe after being removed from various routes. Mr Blomdahl revealed the company was keeping a close watch on fuel costs notched up by similar catamarans on the Irish Sea.