Following doubts as to whether or not P&O Ferries would operate the seasonal Cairnryan/Troon-Larne fast ferry service next year, the operation seems almost certain to close from autumn 2015 following the announced sale of the 91m Incat craft Express by owner Buquebus.

The buyer is reportedly a Swedish company calling itself Nordic HSC that plans to operate the vessel between Visby (Gotland) and the Vastervik on the Swedish mainland under the banner of Gotlandsbåten for 9 months of the year.

The 5,902gt craft was new as the Catalonia in 1998 and, following her record breaking transatlantic voyage was renamed Catalonia L and entered service with Buquebus. P&O Ferries Portsmouth took the vessel on charter in 2000 as the Portsmouth Express for Portsmouth-Cherbourg and she was then marketed as the Cherbourg Express in 2002 and renamed the Express (above).

Transfer to Larne came ahead of the 2005 season.