Madam, - David Sowby (October 31st) expresses concerns regarding the rate of ferry cancellations. May I confirm that the HSS Stena Explorer, one of the world's largest and most technologically advanced fast ferries, which operates on the Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead route, has a 95 per cent reliability for this year to date in relation to weather cancellations? When passengers are unable to travel on the HSS vessel because of technical or weather conditions, they are automatically transferred to the next conventional ferry, the Stena Adventurer, sailing from Dublin Port. The Stena Adventurercurrently has 99.8 per cent reliability this year.
As the HSS vessel operates at twice the speed of the conventional ferry, different operating parameters have been placed on it by the marine authorities and it is not permitted to put to sea in severe storm-force weather. As conventional ferries, the Stena Adventurer- and our new superferry the Stena Nordica,which will begin service on the Dublin-Holyhead route next week - have no such parameters placed upon them and can put to sea in storm-force conditions, at the captain's discretion. Our captains pride themselves on their decision-making abilities and absolute autonomy to carry out their duties without commercial pressure. Passenger safety and comfort has always been Stena Line's priority and will continue to be so. - Yours, etc,