After much delay and confusion, the first sailing of the new Swansea-Cork ferry service took place last night will arrive in Cork this morning. The inaugural sailing of the re-opened ferry service left Swansea at 9.50pm last night and was due in Cork at 8am today (Thursday). It comes nine days after the MV Julia was to make her maiden voyage but technical difficulties resulted in hundreds of potential customers not travelling and not knowing when the ferry would sail.

Speaking to the Cork Independent a spokesperson for Fastnet line, the company that runs the operation, explained that the MV Julia got the go ahead to finally begin sailing.

"The ship has left Swansea Dock and is on its way to the terminal to board its first customers. It will leave Swansea tonight and arrive in Cork at around 8am on Thursday morning."

The spokesperson also confirmed that the first sailing from Cork will leave at 9pm tonight (Thursday). "It will sail from Cork tonight and then resume normal service from Friday on, sailing six days a week."

Cancellation

The first sailing of the MV Julia was due to leave Cork on Monday 1 March but was cancelled due to "necessary works" that needed to be carried out. Operator of the ferry Fastnet Line said "certification by the regulatory authorities" of these works was needed. It is thought that refit problems at Swansea docks were to blame.

A passenger safety certificate was granted on 4 March, but the vessel was still not fit to sail because final surveys needed to be conducted. On Tuesday the final surveys were completed and passed, which meant that all that was needed was final sign off by Irish and Welsh authorities. Fastnet Line says passengers booked on the cancelled sailings will be offered alternative dates of their choice or a full refund of their fare. Passengers hit by the delay will be offered a 50 per cent discount on their next booking.

The MV Julia, which can carry more than 1,800 passengers and 400 cars, previously sailed in the Baltic Sea and was purchased for €7.8 million last year. The vessel has 10 decks with an array of restaurants and bars, a children's' play area and a cinema, as well as over 300 passenger cabins. The ship was purchased last year by the West-Cork Tourism Co-Operative, formed to re-instate the Cork-Swansea ferry service which was axed in 2007.

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