Ferry operator Irish Continental Group (ICG) has reported a trading profit of €16.4 million for the first six months of the year.
That compares with €2.6 million for same period in 2006, and the group said revenue was €163.2 million compared with €141.8 million in 2006.
Total cars carried by its ferries division in the first half of 2007 was 173,000, up 19 per cent from the first half of 2006, whereas the market as a whole is up 4 per cent, the company said.
But the prior year comparison for the passenger business benefits reflected the effects of industrial action in November and December of 2005, it said. When compared with the first half of 2005, when there was no such disruption, total cars carried was up 7 per cent.
Revenue in the division was €85.9 million, with profit from operations of €12.2 million.
Overall roll-on-roll-off freight volumes were up 19 per cent to 131,000 units, when compared with the first half of 2006, the company said.