Giant hull of ‘the largest ferry ever to sail in Irish Sea’
THE hull of the new Irish Ferries cruise ferry for the Holyhead to Dublin route has entered the water.
W. B. Yeats was launched at the shipyard of Flensburger Schiffbau–Gesellschaft in Flensburg, Germany, where the vessel is being built.
Once delivered in July, Irish Ferries said it will be the “largest and most luxurious ferry” ever to sail on the Irish Sea.
The €150 million, 54,985 gross tonne cruise ferry will enter yearround service on Ireland-France and Dublin-Holyhead routes.
Remaining construction work on the hull will now be completed and the vessel fitted with all the technical, operational, décor, furnishings and passenger amenities required onboard.
It will then undergo sea trials, crew training and docking procedures at the Irish, UK and French ports into which it will operate.
W. B. Yeats will have space for 1,885 passengers and crew, 435 cabins, including luxury suites with private balconies and about two miles of car deck space.
Irish Ferries managing director A Andrew Sheen said: “The launch of our new cruise ferry W. B. Yeats – and the expectation of our second new cruise ferry yet to come – heralds in a new era in ferry travel between Ireland, the UK and Continental Europe, bringing with it new standards in terms of passenger and freight capacity, comfort and reliability.”
Irish Ferries’ parent company, Irish Continental Group, have also ordered an even larger cruise ferry for delivery in 2020. Intended for service on the Dublin-Holyhead route, this €165.2m vessel will be the largest cruise ferry in the world for vehicle capacity.