Irish Ferries is adding the Spirit of Britain to its fleet for the Dover to Calais route, and moved the Isle of Innisfree to the Rosslare-Pembroke route.
The Spirit of Britain has a capacity for up to 2,000 passengers, 1,059 cars or 180 freight vehicles. It was built for P&O ferries in 2011. Alongside the Spirit of France it is largest ferry constructed for the cross-channel route from England to France.
The Isle of Innisfree will move to the Rosslare Pembroke route, replacing a temporary charter ship currently servicing the route. The Isle of Innisfree was built in 1992 by the Boelwerf shipyard in Belgium and has the capacity to carry up to 1,140 passengers, 83 freight vehicles or 600 cars.
A portion of P&O’s market share on the Dover to Calais route has been taken by Irish Ferries in the aftermath of an employment contract dispute in March 2022. Irish Ferries is now operating 14 crossings daily from Dover to Calais and from Calais to Dove.
The sip’s name became the subject of debate during the controversy when P&O fired 800 English seafarers via Zoom and replaced with cheaper overseas agency workers and Westminster Transport minister Grant Shapps said he was considering forcing P&O to rename the Spirit of Britain if the company was found to have breached employment regulations. P&O Ferries CEO Peter Hebblethwaite later confirmed that the company was aware that summarily dismissing seafarers without consultation was illegal.
The Spirit of Britain wil be the largest ship in the Irish Ferries fleet. By comparison the WB Yeats has capacity for 1,800 passengers and 1,216 cars.
Andrew Sheen, Managing Director at Irish Ferries, said: “The addition of the Spirit of Britain on the Dover – Calais route and the Isle of Innisfree on the Rosslare Pembroke route is a sign of our ongoing commitment to these routes, and ensuring we offer our freight and passenger customers quality service for these important connections between Britain and France and Britain and Ireland. We look forward to welcoming passengers on board to experience our award-winning hospitality and service.”
- Prices for one-way sailings start from £73 for a car and up to nine passengers on the Dover Calais route, and from £144 for a car plus 1 adult on the Pembroke Rosslare route.
- Prices for one-way sailings start from £73 for a car and up to nine passengers on its Dover Calais route, and from £144 for a car plus 1 adult on its Pembroke Rosslare route. Customers can book online at www.irishferries.com.
- Passenger bookings made with Irish Ferries, whatever the route, can earn points for savings on future sailings with its loyalty programme, Irish Ferries Club.
