Irish Ferries’ Ulysses to Remain Out of Service

The technical issue concerning Irish Ferries’ ship Ulysses is more serious than originally anticipated, the company informed. 

The vessel is expected to be out of service for a further period of one to two weeks, the shipping group added.

Operated by Irish Continental Group’s (ICG) subsidiary on the Dublin / Holyhead route, Ulysses reported technical difficulties with its Starboard Controllable Pitch Propeller on June 24. The vessel entered drydock in Belfast on June 28 and the investigation and repairs to the ship were expected to take no longer than five days, allowing it to resume service on July 4.

However, the repairs have not been completed yet, according to service engineers.

“In advance of her return to service, we will adjust the schedules of our other vessels to minimise the disruption (…) The Dublin / Holyhead route will operate with the Epsilon on the Ulysses schedule alongside the Dublin Swift which will operate additional evening sailings,” Irish Ferries said.

“Irish Ferries would like to apologise to all our passenger and freight customers for this technical disruption. Despite our best efforts we can find no replacement tonnage in what is now the peak tourism season. It is the first major disruption on the Ulysses since her deployment on the Dublin Holyhead service in 2001,” the company added.