Port of Belfast has announced a surge in trade for 2010, following three consecutive years of downturn. According to reports, an additional 16.5 million tonnes of cargo passed through the port last year – 5 per cent more than in 2009. In terms of ferry passenger numbers, however, Port of Belfast recorded a fall of 1 per cent over the year, with some 1.3 million people passing through the port. ...

Much has been said of the icy weather conditions, heavy snowfall and volcanic ash cloud that scuppered air travel across Europe in 2010. Amid these unprecedented problems for the aviation industry, ferry operators thrived as passengers who were unable to make their flights resorted to other forms of transport. In many cases, ferry travel was seen as a direct substitute for air travel in terms of affordability and availability. It was ...

Most of the major ferry operators in the UK, including Stena Line and P&O Ferries, enjoyed a healthy surge in business last year. Predominantly due to the Icelandic ash cloud in April and the adverse weather conditions in January, February and December 2010, ferry companies welcomed thousands of additional passengers who had been failed by the aviation industry. Among the operators to thrive last year, Stena Line is reported to ...

Formed by Auriga Energy Limited, the Bristol Packet and No 7 Boat Trips, Bristol Hydrogen Boats, aims to develop the first ferry to be powered by hydrogen in the UK. Scheduled to hit the water at some point during the summer, the Bristol Hydrogen Boats scheme also aims to revolutionise Britain's ferry industry. Producing zero direct carbon emissions, the hydrogen-powered ferry's only waste product is water, meaning that the environment would ...

P&O Ferries' brand new superferry, the Spirit of Britain, has completed its maiden voyage, travelling from the Port of Dover to Calais in a little over 90 minutes. The enormous ferry, which measures approximately 100 feet across and 700 feet in length and weighs around 49,000 tonnes, is larger than any passenger vessel of its kind. In fact, the Spirit of Britain is almost too big for some of Europe's ...

The name of a person, place or thing can prove vitally important in a commercial context, which is why many high-flying people and companies have changed their names or rebranded their products and services over time. Ferry ports, it would seem, are not above or immune to such changes. Recently, Portsmouth ferry port bosses announced that the Continental Ferry Port would be renamed the Portsmouth International Port with immediate effect. The ...

Scottish ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), is in the process of consulting with isle of Harris locals over a decision to run Sunday crossings to the mainland. Providing a daily service between the isle of Harris and the Scottish mainland could offer a boost to the local economy, while serving to improve accessibility for the island's inhabitants. Not everyone has welcomed the idea of a Sunday service, however, with the ...

According to figures published by the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA), the ferry industry in Britain experienced a significant rise in business last year. In a report published this week, the PSA has announced that 34.94 million passengers hopped aboard ferries to and from Britain in 2010, representing a 0.4 per cent rise on the previous year. The number of cars travelling on ferries also increased, rising 0.3 per cent to 7.95 ...

The UK Government has been urged to improve the road network travelling to the busy Port of Dover, which is thought to handle approximately £80 billion of trade every year and supports some 22,000 jobs. According to various motoring groups, the Port of Dover's growth will almost certainly be stunted unless the Department for Transport implements changes in the near future. The changes include a new lane on the A20 ...

DFDS Seaways, a major European ferry operator based in Denmark, has announced plans to end its loss-making Irish Sea crossings. In a statement released by the company, it was revealed that routes to Dublin from Birkenhead and Heysham would close on financial grounds. The move to end crossings between Lancashire and Ireland is set to cost around 200 jobs in total, with 50 positions affected in Dublin and a further 140 ...