- Norse Irish Ferries
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Norse Irish Ferries 
Successor Norse Merchant Ferries Founded 1991 Defunct 2001 Headquarters Belfast, Northern Ireland Area served Irish Sea Services Passenger transportation
Freight transportationNorse Irish Ferries was an Irish Sea ferry company that operated a passenger and freight roll-on/roll-off service between Belfast and Liverpool.
History
Norse Irish Ferries was formed as a joint venture between the Norwegian Roed Group and a consortium of hauliers who were discontented by the existing RoRo services on the Irish Sea.[1] Following Belfast Car Ferries withdrawal from the Belfast - Liverpool route in October 1990 ferry services from Northern Ireland only operated to Stranraer and Cairnryan requiring a lengthy drive along single carriageway to reach England.
Sailings commenced in November 1991 using the Norse Lagan and Transgermania. Initially they operated a freight only service, passenger were later accepted onto sailing operated by the Norse Lagan.
In July 1997 Norse Irish Ferries took delivery of the first of two new Italian built vessels.[2] The new vessels also introduced a new brand identity featuring a colourful viking ship sail.
In October 1999, Norse Irish Ferries was acquired by Cenargo for US$36 million.[3] The operations of Norse Irish Ferries were merged with that of Merchant Ferries and Belfast Freight Ferries in February 2001 to create Norse Merchant Ferries.
Fleet
Norse Irish Ferries operated 6 vessels during its 10 years of operation.[4]
Name Built Tonnage Passengers Notes Norse Lagan 1967 21,717 400 Sold to Moby Lines, Broken up 2007 Transgermania 1976 5,631 63 now Translandia with Eckerö Line Norse Mersey 1969 20,914 150 now Claudia M with Ustica Lines Norse Mersey 1995 14,820 25 now Eurocargo Napoli with Grimaldi Ferries Mersey Viking 1997 21,856 340 now Stena Feronia with Stena Line Lagan viking 1997 21,856 340 now Liverpool Seaways with DFDS Seaways References
- ^ Tecnologie, Trasporti e Mare - Novembre 1995
- ^ http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/mersey_viking_1997.htm
- ^ http://sec.edgar-online.com/cenargo-international-plc/20-fa-amended-annual-and-transition-report-foreign-private-issuer/2001/03/16/Section8.aspx
- ^ http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/norse_irish_ferries.htm
Categories:- Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom
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