Passengers left high and dry by ferry cancellations

ALMOST 19,000 Irish Ferries passengers have had their sailings to France cancelled because of a delay in the delivery of a new ferry, the company has said.

Holidaymakers who booked to travel on the new WB Yeats vessel this summer are now having to seek other means of transport after Irish Ferries cancelled the planned sailings.

In a statement, the company said the cancellation was because of further delays in building the ship by German company Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) & Co KG.

The ship was due to start sailing in July but sailings will now commence between Ireland and France and the UK in September.

Customers are being contacted about the cancellations and offered alternative travel options by the company.

The company said in a statement: “Irish Ferries very much regrets the inconvenience these cancellations cause our customers and hopes that as many as possible will choose to be accommodated via the company’s alternative arrangements and continue with their holiday plans.”