Stena Line agrees cut in Dún Laoghaire charges

STENA LINE has negotiated a reduction in berthage fees at Dún Laoghaire Harbour in a move which will allow the ferry company to bring its high-speed service back into service for the summer.

However, the company has told staff at the port that even with the reduction – which is subject to ratification by the board of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company – the service may become seasonal from September.

Neither side would confirm the reduction in annual fees, but it is understood to be a drop from €6.5 million to €2 million. If approved by the harbour company board next week the agreement would come into effect on April 1st and last for three years.

Stena has been divesting itself of its high-speed ship (HSS) in recent years and is actively looking for a smaller vessel on the Dún Laoghaire-Holyhead route.

The HSS has been mothballed in Holyhead over the winter and has been replaced on the route by the smaller vessel, the Stena Lynx, on loan from the Rosslare to Fishguard route.

A significant difficulty is that facilities at St Michael’s pier in Dún Laoghaire are not configured for conventional car ferries. Any replacement ferry would have to be another fast craft and the business case for such a fuel-dependent vessel is understood to be uncertain.

Stena has two conventional ferries serving Dublin port. There are also Irish Sea crossings to Britain from Belfast and Rosslare.

In the light of declining traffic on the Holyhead route, the harbour company has made no secret of its interest in the cruise line business.

Chief executive Gerry Dunne has said plans were being made to attract cruise liners with a capacity for up to 5,000 passengers.

The plans are being supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as well as the local chamber of commerce, retail and tourism interests and will be advanced by a new master plan being drawn up for the harbour.

A spokeswoman for the harbour company said a statement on the future agreement between the harbour and the ferry company would be issued after the harbour company board meeting next week.