CalMac was affected by strike action 23rd- 25th June after talks with the RMT Union failed. The action was said to be to defend jobs, conditions and pensions. However, all this succeeds in achieving is massive disruption to locals, businesses and tourists. The dispute came as publicly-owned CalMac and private firm Serco bid for a new contract for services to the west coast islands from 2017.

Irish Ferries is this year celebrating the 20th anniversary of its service from Rosslare to the French port of Roscoff. Inaugurated in Summer 1995, it was introduced to compliment the company’s then established services to Normandy, via the ports of Cherbourg and Le Havre and to provide passengers with a direct service to/from Brittany, a region popular amongst Irish holidaymakers. Since its introduction, the service has continued without interruption serviced in turn by the St. Patrick II, St. Killian II, Normandy and the present cruise ferry, Oscar Wilde (above).

Ro-Ro Partnership: P&O Ferries and Ro- Ro operator SOL Continent Line have teamed up to combine services between the UK, Benelux and Scandinavia. Under the partnership, forwarders will be able to ship their freight from Tilbury and Teesport via Zeebrugge to Gothenburg through four weekly departures from Tilbury and four from Teesport respectively.

SNCM’s future has yet to be decided with progress now becoming a farce. The Commercial Court of Marseille rejected offers to acquire the company for a second time and the judicial administrators now have to announce a new appeal. In the meantime the judges have set a date for the next hearing in Marseille, on 25th September.

Stena Line’s Stena Transporter (above) suffered a minor fire on board on the evening of 19th June but this was swiftly dealt with by her crew. The ship anchored off Grimsby and lifeboats/tugs attended and stood by the vessel. A small fire also affected P&O’s Spirit of Britain at Calais on 11th July.

Tirrenia, an Italian ferry operator, has been acquired by the owner of Moby Lines so 95% of ferry services to Sardinia are now controlled by one parent company.

White Funnel Ltd. brought the classic passenger vessel Balmoral back to operational service from 19th June on the Bristol Channel. Alas the Isle of Man sailings and the outing from Liverpool to Llandudno was also curtailed due to weather conditions.