Delivery of W.B. Yeats Further Delayed, Irish Ferries Cancels 6,000 Bookings

The delivery of Irish Ferries’ new ship, W.B. Yeats, has been further delayed, forcing the company to cancel around 6,000 bookings.

The newbuilding, which was due to commence sailings between Ireland and France from July 30, is now expected to enter into service in September 2018.

“Due to delays in the delivery of interior components for public areas and on the electrical system installation in the hull and deckhouse, work on the new build NB771 “W.B. Yeats” will continue for a few weeks,” German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft & Co.KG (FSG) informed.

“Approximately 6,000 bookings will be impacted by this issue. Customers affected are being offered a number of alternative travel options,” Irish Ferries said.

The ferry company was previously forced to cancel July sailings for the W.B. Yeats when they were informed in April by FSG, of the initial delay. Approximately 2,500 bookings were impacted by the earlier cancellation, however, 95% of those chose to switch to Irish Ferries’ other cruise ferry, the Oscar Wilde.

The shipbuilding contract was signed in May 2016, with the first steel cutting in April 2017, and keel laying in September 2017. The hull of W. B. Yeats was launched into the water in January this year in Flensburg, Germany.