Irish Ferries announced the addition of the Ro-Pax ship Blue Star 1 on the Ireland-Wales route Rosslare Europort-Pembroke Dock.
Blue Star 1 cruiseferry will be the fastest passenger vessel of its kind on the route.
The ship is being chartered from Attica Group. Delivery is expected in early-April 2021.
Blue Star 1 was built in 2000 by Van der Giessen de Noord Shipyard (in Krimpen aan den IJssel, Holland), the same yard that in 1997 built Isle of Inishmore (currently servicing the Rosslare-Pembroke route).
Blue Star 1 has passenger capacity 1500 and cargo capacity 100 trucks and 700 cars (depending on freight volume).
The cruise ship has 192 cabins for freight drivers or passengers, a self-service restaurant, club class lounge, cafe/bar, duty-free shop, kids' playground, spacious outdoor decks.
Separately, Irish Ferries (subsidiary of Irish Continental Group) announced the new Dover-Calais service. It is planned to start in June 2021, with the transfer of Isle of Inishmore ferry to the route. The additional capacity will be added in the coming months.