FStena Line is experiencing significant cancellations and delays on the Irish Sea, particularly on the Dublin-Holyhead route, due to technical issues and port congestion. Several sailings, including the 04:00 and 10:00 services, have been cancelled,
Irish Ferries is experiencing cancellations and disruptions due to adverse weather, including the cancelled 07:30 Holyhead-Dublin sailing on 12/03/2026 and the 01:15 Dublin-Holyhead on 12/03/2026. The Cherbourg-Dublin service is also impacted, with the Inisheer vessel cancelled.
- Dublin-Holyhead: The 01:15 sailing (James Joyce) on 12/03/2026 is in doubt, with alternatives suggested for 19:45 (11th) or 07:30 (12th).
- Holyhead-Dublin: 07:30 sailing (James Joyce) on 12/03/2026 is cancelled.
- Cherbourg-Dublin: The Inisheer sailing on 12/03/2026 is cancelled; passengers may be moved to the WBYeats 16:30 sailing on 11/03/2026.
If a sailing is cancelled, Irish Ferries will attempt to rebook passengers on the next available, or you may seek a refund
While the port has not undergone a total closure like the one seen in January 2026, many sailings remain cancelled or delayed. Many ferry crossing have been brought forward to deal with the situation.
The trouble began when the Stena Adventurer ferry developed a serious technical fault while berthed at Holyhead, preventing it from departing as scheduled and blocking access to key berthing spaces. This left incoming vessels unable to dock properly, with several ships left waiting offshore and multiple crossings cancelled or heavily delayed as a result.
The Stena Adventurer remains sidelined with technical problems. The Stena Estrid is reportedly operating, though some of its early morning sailings were cancelled
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries reported widespread effects from Sunday onwards, with passengers including hundreds of Welsh rugby supporters returning from Ireland’s Six Nations victory over Wales caught up in the chaos.
Operators described the situation using terms such as extraordinary reasons and technical problems, though no further specifics on the nature of the fault have been released publicly. Some services were diverted to alternative ports such as Liverpool, where affected travellers then continued by coach to reach their destinations.
As of Monday the ninth of March, the disruption has extended into a second day. Irish Ferries has cancelled certain sailings, including the early morning James Joyce departure from Holyhead to Dublin, while others such as the Ulysses and James Joyce routes from Dublin have operated with substantial delays or advanced departure times to manage the backlog. Stena Line has similarly adjusted schedules, with teams working to resolve the underlying issue and restore normal berthing operations as quickly as possible.
Travellers are strongly urged to check the latest updates directly on the operators’ websites or contact customer service before heading to port, as further changes remain likely until full functionality returns to Holyhead. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of this busy Irish Sea route to unexpected mechanical setbacks at critical infrastructure points.
Stena Line shared “the port developed a technical issue which needs to be resolved before the ship can leave Holyhead Port. We are working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible”
