Getting Places - Ro Ro Ferries

There are several companies carrying ro-ro cargo to and from Ireland.




Tweleve Quays

Twelve Quays is a purpose built ferry terminal built to allow ferries to berth quickly no matter the tide level. Ferries travel from Birkenhead Twelve Quays across the Irish Sea to Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Dublin (Republic of Ireland). These ferries carry mainly trailers, though they all have passenger accommodation. Mersey Viking and Lagan Viking both have 5 vehicle decks and spacious passenger accomodation. Ships based at Twelve Quays:
Dublin Viking, Lagan Viking, Liverpool Viking, Mersey Viking

Other Ships that have visited Twelve Quays:
Ben My Chree, Brave Merchant(sold), Leili, Linda Rosa, Norse Mersey, Shield (formerly rr Shield) Saga Moon

Liverpool Docks

There are two ferry companies operating from the Liverpool Docks to Dubin (Republic of Ireland).
Ships based in Liverpool Docks:
P & O Norbank, Norbay, RR Triumph, Global Freighter
Celtic Link Celtic Star, Chong Ming Dao Celtic Sun
Another ferry company operates from the Liverpool Docks to Leixoes (Portugal).
Searoad Baltic Eagle

Ships Based at Twelve Quays

Liverpool Viking

Since the troubles in Northern Ireland have subsided, there is a regular service between Liverpool and Belfast which was provided by the Liverpool Viking (shown below) and her sister ship the Dublin Viking (2003 ->).

In September 2004, the journey from Birkenhead to Belfast took longer than usual when the lock holding the landing ramp jambed. Specialist cutting gear was used and the passengers were able to disembark.
In 2005, the ferry was renamed as Liverpool Viking as there is a new larger "Lagan Viking" which entered service on the Belfast route in July 2005. Liverpool viking was put on the Dublin route.
In December 2005 the ferry was in a local shipyard. Will she be painted in the new company colours?
In February 2006, I spotted that her funnel had been repainted.


Dublin Viking

In July 2008 the ferry was heading out to sea when the Clippers returned to Liverpool.


In August 2003 the Dublin Viking collided with the landing stage stranding several workers on the gantry. They were rescued by a lifeboat without any injuries. The landing stage was soon towed back into place and service resumed.

In November 2005 the ship was was renamed from Mersey Viking to Dublin Viking. In December the ship moved from the Belfast service to the Dublin service.
On Sunday 18th December 2005 the ship ran aground. The ship did not appear to be damaged but it was taken out of service for safety inspections.

By May 2005, the marshalling area was extended at Twelve Quays (Birkenhead) and two faster vessels with greater passanger capacity were ordered:
Lagan Viking
Mersey Viking
In May 2006 a bomb was discovered.
December 2006 -> January 2007 - maintenance work done in a Birkenhead dry dock. Note the Maersk "star" on the funnel and the shiny exhausts which are no longer black.


On Saturday 11th I heard there had been a nasty accident in Dublin on evening of Tuesday 7th as the Dublin Viking was leaving the berth.
On Monday 13th I received some more sad news... one of the seafarers involved in the accident had died.

Lagan Viking

The twenty seven thousand ton Lagan Viking arrived at Twelve Quays on Monday 18th July 2005 for a trial berthing. This picture shows her landing ramp being lowered to take on cargo for her first commercial sailing to Belfast which was on 20th July 2005.
Lagan Viking sailed from Twelve Quays at the same time that the clipper 2005-2006 round the world race started.
On January 28th while sailing from Belfast to Liverpool a man was seen to go overboard just south of the Isle of Man.

Mersey Viking

The new Mersey Viking arrived at Twelve Quays in December 2005. Like her sister ship Lagan Viking this ferry has five vehicle decks and a large amount of passenger accomodation. To get an idea of scale, look between the orange life boat and the funnel - yes that blob is someone standing on deck.

The picture (below) shows an enlarged view of the funnel section. The lights are on the railing of the top car deck. Just below is a walkway and standing there is someone getting some fresh air.


A bomb was discovered in May (2006).

Other Ships that have visited Twelve Quays

Brave Merchant

Brave Merchant was built in 1999, weights 22,000 tonnes and can carry 250 passengers and 130 commercial vehicles. Brave Merchant used to travel between Twelve Quays and Belfast.

In February 2003 Brave Merchant was hired by the Royal Navy to transport supplies and heavy equipment such as tanks. In September 2003 Brave Merchant returned to the Irish Sea.

In January 2006, the ship was sold to ISCOMAR and will cover the Barcelona - Palma de Mallorca line as Blanca Del Mar.

Norse Mersey

In October 2002 the Norse Mersey was added to the Liverpool Belfast route. I haven't seen Norse Mersey in 2005 so I guess she has moved to another route or been charted to another company.


Linda Rosa

In February 2003 the sister ship of the Norse Mersey (Linda Rosa) joined the fleet. It looks almost identical to the Norse Mersey, though obviously it is painted a different colour.


Leili

When other ships have routine maintenance a replacement ship often provides the service. In May 2005, Leili took cargo from Twelve quays across the Irish sea. Leili is considerably smaller than the other ships and looking at the deck it appears to be equipped to carry containers.


Saga Moon

In July 2005 Saga Moon berthed to deliver trailers to Twelve Quays. Saga Moon is another ship that occasionally visits Twelve Quays. Saga Moon provided additional capacity in December 2005 as one of the other ferry companies had a strike.
In December 2006 / January 2007 provided cover while Dublin Viking was in dry dock.
Specification 133 * 18 * 4.6, tonnage of 7746.


Shield

Formerly known as RR Shield.
When gales blow on the Irish Sea some of the smaller ferries cancel their sailings. On the 17th of January the ferry Ben My Chree cancelled its sailing to Twelve Quays. Shield still sailed but look at the shape of this trailer!. I don't think the owner will be very impressed when they see the side dented in and the roof shaped like a banana.


In October 2006 RR Shield provided cover during routine maintenance.


Ships Based in the Liverpool Docks

The time to travel through into the docks depends on the tide level, but it can take an hour if the river is particularly low. See pictures of the liner Black Prince leaving the Liverpool Docks at low tide.

Norbank

Berths in Gladstone Dock using the Gladstone Lock. In May (2006) I saw her arriving and reversing into the lock.
Specification: 167 * 29 * 5.7 with a tonnage of 17,464.


Norbay

Dimentions 167 * 24 * 6 metres.
Berths in Gladstone Dock using the Gladstone Lock.


RR Triumph

Entered service July 2006 -> finished service February 2007.
Specification: 122 * 19.8 * 6.21 with a gross tonnage of 7606.

Replaced by Global Freighter.

Global Freighter

Entered service Feb 2007.
Specification: 156 * 22 * 6.3 with a tonnage of 5744. Built August 1977


Celtic Link

Celtic Star

She has travelled quite a long way as she was built in Japan 1991 as Kosei Maru. She has had several names since including Ioalaos, Loon-Plage, Northern Star and Celtic Star (its current name).
She is 136 metres long, has a breath of 20.5 metres and a draft of 6.7 metres. She travels at 20.8 knots.
Berths in Langton Dock using the Langton Lock.
There is limited accomodation (twelve drivers). Celtic star (formerly Northern Star) is one of the smaller ro-ro ships and she carries about 70 trailers. She came into service on the Dublin route April/May (2006).


Towards the end of May (2006) I managed to get to New Brighton to get a picture before the ship entered the lock. The weather deck seemed to be filled with trailers which shows how quickly the ro-ro demand has grown recently.


In December (2006) it was seriously windy. Many ferries didn't sail because of the weather conditions. After all who wants impersonate the Ellan Vannin?
The ship did arrive in Liverpool, but there were eight less trailers on the ferry, the rails were bent and several other trailers had overturned.

Chong Ming Dao

Due to enter service late in the Summer (2006). Built in 1977, major alterations were done in 1987. In some pictures she has cabins above the upper vehicle deck. Still not arrived - December 2006


Celtic Sun

Celtic links second (larger ship) entered service on the Liverpool Dublin route in January (2007). Dimensions (165 * 26 * 5.2). Built in 1978.

Sea Road

The Liverpool -> Leizoes (Portugal) service started in September 2006.

Baltic Eagle

Built in Finland in 1979 with a speed of 18 knots.
Dimensions 137.12 * 26.01 * 8.21 metres. BRT/DWT 6,376 / 9,450.
Picture coming soon...



Getting Places.

Shipping Cross Reference
Other shipping on the River Mersey.
Shipping in Wallasey Docks.
Tugs.
Places of Interest.
Map Index.