NEWS BULLETIN - October 2007

Irish Government has requested the payment of a €10,000 licence fee. Brittany Ferries confirmed on October 26 that it will not be operating its traditional Cork harbour 'jazz cruise' because of the massive licence fee demand which it rejected as "blatant privateering."

The vessel remained berthed at Ringaskiddy terminal though a dockside programme of music, dining and beverages was being offered.

The 'jazz cruise' around Cork Harbour has proved one of the most popular recent innovations to Ireland's biggest music festival. More than 1,200 passengers were expected to enjoy the jazz cruise around Cork harbour.

However, Brittany Ferries warned that having to incorporate the €10,000 licence fee demand into its jazz cruise ticket prices would have made them totally unaffordable for music fans.

The 'jazz cruise' has been operated for the previous three years by Brittany Ferries as part of their commitment to the Cork Jazz Festival.

This year's harbour cruise had been expected to prove even more ambitious to mark the 30th anniversary of the music spectacular which is now the third biggest jazz festival in Europe.

The licence fee demand came after it was deemed that such 'jazz cruises' fell outside the normal coverage of Brittany Ferries existing operating license.

Such 'inshore' cruises were ruled by the Department of the Marine to be covered by a special domestic ferry licence.

Brittany Ferries warned that it could not justify such a licence for a single weekend's harbour cruising.

More than 40,000 music and party fans are expected in Cork over the jazz festival weekend between October 26 and 29th.

CAMMELL LAIRD - NSL

RFA WAVE RULER is due at Cammell Laird on November 21, 2007

The submarine was formerly an attraction at the Historic Warships site in Birkenhead docks.

Plans include the provision of a visitor exhibition centre at the site.

The boat will be cut into three sections to be transported and viewed. At Woodside huge glass panels installed over the end of each section will allow visitors to see inside the submarine from specially-built viewing platforms.

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, said: "It's very good news, not only does it give a home to the U-boat but it also compliments our work along the river with other attractions like Spaceport.

"We'll do a good job with this."

The exhibition in the visitors centre will display some of the four- and-a-half tons of memorabilia that was found on U534.

This includes an Enigma cipher machine, ammunition, uniforms, tools, charts and maps.

Plans to cut up the remains of the MSC NAPOLI have been approved in a move that means that the stern section of the ship will still be off the Devon coast next Spring. Salvors believe the cargo vessel is too heavy to be lifted in tact, so cutting equipment is tobe brought in to break her up further.

A barge will then be used to take her away for recycling and scrap. But local businesses have voiced their anger and fear that more oil pollution could put off visitors.

Simon Bartlett, who runs a boat hire firm, said: "Oil on the beaches can't be good for the tourist industry." The MSC NAPOLI was grounded off the coast at Branscombe, Devon after being damaged in storms in January. The ship wassplit in two in a series of explosions and the bow towed to the Harland and Wolff shipyard, in Belfast, to be demolishedand recycled.

Salvors have said the beached stern was due to be taken away in one piece in November. Robin Middleton, the Secretary of State's representative for Maritime Salvage, said: "Cutting vessels up isn't new, cutting vessels up with adevice this sheer size is novel and new and it's hoped in the industry if this is successful this will become the norm. "All of the crew were rescued from the ship in January after it was damaged in storms while sailing from Antwerp to South Africa.

PENINSULAR & ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY

EUROPEAN ENDEAVOUR (ex MIDNIGHT MERCHANT / EL GRECO] made her debut on the Mersey on Sunday October 27. [Click Here]

Seatruck Ferries have taken delivery of the first in the 'Clipper Point' series of vessels, albeit a little smaller than her sisters.

Measuring over 3200mm long in its glass case, the 1:50 scale model of the 'Clipper Point' is just as impressive in its own way. Over fifteen months in the making, the giant model was manufactured by RCI in the Far East and shipped to Heysham in time for its inaugural outing - a show stopping centre piece for the Seatruck Ferries sponsored Export & Freight awards in Belfast.

The model is accurate in every detail, right down to the wheelhouse consoles. A cut-away section on the starboard side reveals the detail of the main and lower cargo decks and LED lights provide internal illumination.

"A great deal of work went into ensuring that the finished result was as exciting as the concept" said Andy Askham. "The paint colours were matched to those provided for the real ship. Hundreds of drawings and detailed photographs were supplied to the model makers to ensure that the model, built slightly ahead of the actual vessel, was as close a representation of the real thing as could be achieved."

The final finishing touch - and the main reason for choosing to build a model at an unprecedented large scale - was for Seatruck Ferries customers to provide die-cast truck models at the same scale. Each is painted meticulously in their own company liveries and placed onboard to grace the cargo decks and add to the realism.

Transporting such a large model wasn't without its own problems. On its wooden plinth and with a plexiglass cover, the display weighs in at around six hundred kilogrammes, giving Alistair Eagles and Damian McGrath a real challenge to erect the model on their stand in Belfast.

It is hoped that the 'Clipper Point' model will grace Seatruck Ferries Shipholding's new offices and travel out to delight the crowds whereverSeatruck Ferries exhibit.

A Dartmouth district councillor has blasted South Hams Council for its new plans to increase charges for local users of the Lower Ferry. Hilary Bastone said this week that the plans, which would see prices for visitors drop by 30p a trip but charges for those using concession tickets go up by 50p, were very badly thought out.

Cllr Bastone said if the charges were increased he would stop using the Lower Ferry in favour of the privately run Higher Ferry. The plans are a reversal of an increase in April 2006, which was much criticised but seemed to be vindicated by a sharp increase in use after it was implemented. However, passenger figures in 2006/07 were down nearly 20,000 on 2005/06, and the council's prosperity policy group has been looking at the changes. 'It is a stupid plan,' said Cllr Bastone. 'I can't believe that the increase was implemented in 2006, and now they are proposing this u-turn coupled with a 50 per cent increase for locals. 'The council shot itself in the foot when it increased the charges 18 months ago, and now these plans represent another shot. I personally use the concession ticket on the lower ferry, but if these changes go through I'll be using the Higher Ferry from now on. I imagine many Dartmothians will do the same. It is madness.' The Lower Ferry has been dubbed a district council cash cow by locals who see it as helping to subsidise council tax across the district.

Last year it made a £792,000 profit. This increase, according to Cllr Bastone, will do nothing to change that view. However, the report which has gone to the district council reveals that the increase in concession tickets does not cover the real cost of the journey to the district council, which is £1.76. The number of those using concession tickets and those paying full price are roughly equal, but three quarters of the revenue generated by the ferry comes from full fare paying users.

Stena Line and P&O Irish Sea have bandoned plans for a new multi-million pounds shared terminal in south west Scotland to serve Irish Sea routes.

Escalating costs have been blamed for the decision to pull the plug on the new joint facilities at Cairnryan.

Stena had planned to move its base about six miles up Loch Ryan from Stranraer to Cairnryan where rivals P&O already operate.

The move was intended to allow the redevelopment of Stranraer seafront.

Stena and P&O have been planning the shared re-development of Cairnryan Port for more than four years.

The joint venture was given the go-ahead earlier this year by a harbour empowerment order.

Plans were well advanced with work due to start soon and the new terminal scheduled for opening in 2009.

A statement from the two companies said it was "simply no longer economically viable" to proceed with the shared port facilities for Irish Sea services.

The greater impact is on Stena who had sought to move from outdated facilities at Stranraer to cut the journey time of sailings to Belfast and reduce fuel costs.

Route director Alan Gordon said they would now review their options which include staying at Stranraer or going it alone with the development of a new terminal further up Loch Ryan.

P&O spokesman Terry Cairns said it was business as usual for them.The decision has consequences for ambitions plans by Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway and the local council to re-develop the waterfront area of Stranraer when the ferries had gone.

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP Alex Fergusson said a lot of hard work had "effectively been wasted".

Mr Fergusson said it was vital to ensure that Stena Line remained in Dumfries and Galloway as its presence was "vitally important".

"I will be seeking urgent discussions with the management of Stena to explore the company's future intentions," he said.

He added that he would do everything possible to ensure the firm remained part of the region's transport infrastructure.

"An awful lot of hard work, consultation and compromise has now effectively been wasted," he said.

"The important thing now is to ensure Stena's future in Loch Ryan as part of the Euroroute to Northern Ireland."

South of Scotland SNP MSP Alasdair Morgan voiced concern at the wider impact of the decision.

"Clearly this announcement is very disappointing, not least because of the potential impact that it will have on plans for the regeneration of Stranraer waterfront," he said.

"It is very much to be hoped that those parts of the scheme which are not dependent on the Stena move can still go ahead."

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown said the project was vital for the area.

"It's absolutely essential that all the partners work together to seek to ensure Stena does retain its ferry port on Loch Ryan and that it relocates up the loch," he said.

"If this does not happen the implications are potentially devastating. "Many local jobs could be jeopardised and the whole regeneration project for Stranraer and the surrounding area could be under threat." [BBC]

The Conygar Investment Company PLC have announced that it has entered into a joint venture with Stena Line Ports Ltd to develop surplus non-operational land currently owned by Stena at Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales.

Conygar has committed £7m to the joint venture company, Conygar Stena Line Ltd, to finance planning application and other associated costs with Stena contributing the land.

It is envisaged that the development will incorporate residential, leisure, tourist and retail facilities, an expanded marina development with associated commercial and marine engineering elements, Conygar said in a statement.

A project which aims to attract thousands of tourists to the Titanic  Quarter in Belfast has lost out on £25m of lottery money.

The project failed to reach the final funding shortlist for the  National Lottery's Living Landmarks Fund.

The signature project is to sit at the heart of the redevelopment of the Titanic Quarter.

The Titanic signature project - showcasing the city's maritime and industrial heritage - is set to cost an estimated £90m.  This would come from a mix of public and private investment.

Tourism Minister Nigel Dodds said the decision left a large gap and he would now consider other sources for funding.

Titanic Foundation chairman Brian Ambrose said the plan had been well pitched to fund managers and the decision was a setback.

"I think the team did a tremendous job in presenting the project and I'm disappointed we haven't been selected," he said.

"But as far as the project goes we dust ourselves down, we move on and we're still determined to deliver this project on time for the centenary in 2012."

The Living Landmarks Fund is expected to finance up to six projects across the UK. [BBC]

Tesco will use the Manchester Ship Canal to move crates of wine from South America from the Port of Liverpool and a container terminal at Irlam. The retailer says the move will mean hundreds of lorries can be taken off the roads, reducing congestion and cutting carbon emissions.

It already has plans to use other canal links across Britain. The move has been made possible by the collaboration of Tesco, Peel Holdings who run the canal and the Port of Liverpool and importer Kingsland Wines.

The new cargo service involves three journeys a week, delivering an estimated 600,000 litres of wine on each journey along the 40-mile stretch of the canal.

This is a step forward in helping to address today's important environmental issues Laurie McIlwee, Tesco

The containers of wine from Australia, California, Chile and Argentina are then transported to a bottling site less than half a mile away where they are packed for Tesco supermarkets across the country.

Until now the wine shipments have arrived in the UK at various southern ports by ship before being driven to the Manchester bottling depot.

Tesco distribution director Laurie McIlwee said: "This move will be like taking a step back to the pre-car days of the late Victorian era when a lot of cargo was still transported by canal, and is a step forward in helping to address today's important environmental issues.

"We are already looking at other areas where we can move freight on waterways."

Frank Robotham from Peel Holdings said: "This is something we've been working on for 12 months.

"It has already got a lot of interest from other retailers. We believe it has a definite sustainable future as not only is it environmentally friendly but is also cost effective

ULYSSES - Due to refurbishment works at the terminal in Holyhead the ULYSSES will operate on a temporary revised sailing schedule for a short period. Details as follows:

Monday 15th October 

From Holyhead

scheduled 02.40hrs sailing will depart at 04.20hrs

scheduled 14.10hrs sailing will depart at 16.20hrs

From Dublin

scheduled 08.05hrs sailing will depart at 11.30hrs

scheduled 20.55hrs sailing will depart at 23.30hrs

Tuesday 16th October

From Holyhead

scheduled 02.40hrs sailing will depart at 04.20hrs

scheduled 14.10hrs sailing will depart at 16.20hrs

From Dublin

scheduled 08.05hrs sailing will depart at 11.30hrs

scheduled 20.55hrs sailing will depart at 22.00hrs

Wednesday 17th October

From Holyhead

scheduled 02.40hrs sailing will depart at 03.40hrs

On further sailings will be on schedule

BEN-MY-CHREE the Steam Packet on-line booking system suggests that the ship will go off service after her 14:15 Heysham to Douglas sailing on Monday February 25. There is no evening sailing on that day, and the following day's sailing to Heysham is scheduled for a 'seacat' (2 hours).

The BEN-MY-CHREE returns to service from the 19.45 Douglas to Heysham sailing on Friday March 07, 2008.

The 'seacat' schedule appears to be as follows, giving only one round trip per day:

Monday to Friday inclusive:  Douglas to Heysham 08.45  Heysham to Douglas 14.15.

Saturday: Douglas to Liverpool 08:00, Liverpool to Douglas 19:00.

Sunday: Douglas to Liverpool 15.00, Liverpool to Douglas 19.00.

It is presumed that the 'seacat' will be SEA EXPRESS I (SEACAT ISLE OF MAN) if her repairs are completed by then as she can operate in sea conditions of up to 3.5m and would be less liable to disruption.

The 'seacat' sailings to Liverpool on Saturday and Sunday continue after the BEN-MY-CHREE returns with a Friday Douglas departure at 07:30 and an 11:15 return sailing commencing on Fridays from March 14.

NORFOLK LINE

RR ARROW - the ship is currently at Cammell Laird undergoing maintenance - this means that the Heysham - Belfast service is down to one ship CFF SEINE.

The Heysham - Dublin service being run by SAGA MOON and RR SHIELD.

HEYSHAM PORT - the damaged #3 link span will be replaced by a new span, similar to the new #1 span in February or March 2008.

Strong rumours are circulating from several sources that suggest RR ARROW (currently undergoing bow thrust repairs and maintenance at Cammell Laird) and RR TRIUMPH have been sold to Seatruck Ferries.

Carnival Corporation signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the new 2092-passenger ocean liner, which will be built at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard at an all-in cost of approximately $700 million. The vessel will be the second largest ship the company has every built for the Cunard division.

"Cunard already owns and operates the two most famous ocean liners in the world, QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 and QUEEN MARY 2, and a third -- QUEEN VICTORIA -- is due to be named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, in December of this year," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line."

The decision to order another ship for Cunard Line has been taken as a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria, and we are extremely pleased that Cunard will once again become a three-ship fleet so soon after the departure of the much-celebrated QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 in November 2008. Furthermore, we are delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has given her blessing to our calling this new Cunarder 'Queen Elizabeth', after our first vessel of that name."

The new ship follows a long line of famous Cunard liners stretching back to the company's inception as the first operator of a timetabled transatlantic service 167 years ago.

"It is a particularly special moment for Fincantieri to have secured a second order from Cunard at a time when we are nearing the completion of Queen Victoria," said Mr. Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri's Chief Executive Officer. "Cunard is the most famous name in passenger shipping and we are honoured to have been chosen to build QUEEN ELIZABETH and to continue the tradition and heritage of that great company."

QUEEN ELIZABETH will offer the very best of Cunard's values and traditions, blended with every conceivable modern luxury that today's discerning travellers expect. Through her opulent public rooms and impeccable service, the new ship will reflect the grandeur which has been associated with Cunard ships since the introduction of the MAURETANIA in 1907; and from the outside, her black hull, gleaming white superstructure and distinctive red funnel will echo the classic characteristics of the company's distinctive liner heritage.

QUEEN ELIZABETH will fly the Red Ensign with her home-port Southampton, as is the case with the other ships in the Cunard fleet.

The agreement is subject to approval by the board of directors of Carnival Corporation & plc. Design details and initial itineraries will be announced in due course.

Cumbria County Council has apologised to anyone who witnessed an incident on the Windermere Ferry MALLARD in which two young swans were killed.

The county council operates the ferry that runs between Ferry Nab and Ferry House on Windermere.

Last Wednesday (October 3) morning several people looked on as the craft hit the two birds as it mounted the slipway at Ferry House on the west side of the lake.

A spokesman for the council said: "This was a very unfortunate incident and we are very sorry for what happened and apologise to anyone who saw the swans hit by the ferry.

We are investigating to see what if anything can be done to prevent a repeat of this distressing incident."

(Westmorland Gazette)

IRISH CONTINENTAL GROUP

Irish Ferries has won two top UK travel awards for their services between Ireland and Britain.

Against competition from companies operating on the North Sea, English Channel and Irish Sea routes, Irish Ferries was voted winner of the Ferry Operator of the Year award sponsored by leading UK travel trade publication, Travel Trade Gazette. The award was decided by a panel of 37 industry experts.

Their second award, Best Ferry Company on the Irish Sea, was presented by the World Travel Awards organisation whose awards were hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the travel industry's equivalent to the Oscars.

A ten-times winner of Ireland's Best Ferry Company award, this is the first occasion on which Irish Ferries have been presented with travel awards in the UK. Previously, an award for its freight services was presented to the company in London.

Commenting, Irish Ferries marketing director Tony Kelly said 'besides being a tribute to our staff and crew, our success in winning these awards provides independent verification of the improved levels of service and passenger care which customers can now expect when travelling on our services".

IT IS looking increasingly likely that there won't be a ferry next year running from Campbeltown. Despite promising signs when the SNP took control at Holyrood and the Northern Ireland Assembly was re-established and meetings between politicians on both sides the process has dragged on until it has reached a point where it would be too late to include the ferry service in the all-important tourism brochures and promotions for 2008.

One of the ferry companies which has expressed an interest in the route even has a ship waiting. Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute received a reply from Northern Ireland Minister, Nigel Dodds, about the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service, informing him that 'it is unlikely that the service, if restored, will be in place for next year'.

Mr Dodds also wrote that the Northern Ireland Executive is waiting for the Scottish Government to develop a 'discussion paper'. Mr Reid said: 'This is bad news for Campbeltown. I simply cannot understand why the SNP has failed to produce a discussion paper after four months in office.

'All the work necessary had already been put in place by Liberal Democrat Transport Ministers Nicol Stephen and Tavish Scott. 'They prepared tender documents which found favour with two companies interested in operating the ferry. All that was lacking was the signature of the Northern Ireland Minister, who was then Labour direct rule Minister Peter Hain. He refused to sign the documents.

'Now that there are new local Ministers in Northern Ireland, all that the SNP Transport Minister had to do was update the papers already drawn up by his predecessors and send them to Northern Ireland. I simply cannot understand why he has failed to do this after four months. Clearly

Campbeltown is at the bottom of the SNP's priority list. 'I won't give up on this, but will keep battling away to convince the SNP of the importance of re-starting this service in plenty of time for it to appear in tourist brochures for 2009.'

Jamie McGrigor, Highlands and islands Conservative MSP, has also been lobbying members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on the need for the reinstatement of the ferry service. Jamie has been pressing for urgent

decisions to be taken by the Northern Ireland Executive and Scottish Government, holding talks with Members of the Assembly from across the political spectrum, including the SDLP, the Alliance and the DUP.

Jamie, who has been pushing First Minister Alex Salmond and Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson on the subject since they took office in May, said after the meeting: 'I was very pleased to be able to take the opportunity to highlight to the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly the need for agreement to be reached to reinstate the ferry service. There is definite support for a new ferry service both in Argyll and in Northern Ireland and I am looking for Ministers to take concrete decisions as soon as possible.'

SNP councillor John Semple has defended the way the ferry plans have been handled. 'If this service will only have five years to prove its self the important issue is not when it will start, but that it will get off to the best possible start with the right vessel and the right operator,' he said.

'We have learned this from bitter experience. I would hope that the service starts as soon as practically possible but pressing for a premature start could well have serious negative consequences. I would be surprised that anyone with experience of the service would suggest otherwise.' [CAMPBELTOWN COURIER]

The seaward sections of the newly installed cruise terminal will be dry-docked at Cammell Laird after the departure of the STENA ADVENTURER. The upriver sections were dry docked before the stage was commissioned. The foot passenger access bridge at the north end was craned off during the past week and placed on Prince's Parade.

The Rosslare to Pembroke  service, has been cancelled due to a serious accident at the Milford Haven port facility which occurred on Saturday October 06. The 21:00 ex Rosslare and 02:45 ex Pembroke sailings being cancelled.

One person is missing after a jack-up barge collapsed beside a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal currently being built near Milford Haven in west Wales.

Two people were pulled from the water following the collapse which happened at around 15:00 on Saturday October 06, said Milford Haven Port Authority.

Five other people were rescued from the barge by a work boat.

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said they would be launching an investigation.

Milford Haven Port Authority closed the port to all traffic movements and declared a port emergency at 1540 BST.

A number of vessels, including three tugs, were sent to the scene of the collapsed barge, which had been working alongside the South Hook LNG terminal.

Later the authority said the barge was listing heavily and could capsize. They have established an exclusion zone around it.

Salvage experts were also coming to the port to assess the situation, it said.

Milford Haven coastguard, which is leading the search and rescue effort, said they had established a command control centre for any salvage operations to be carried out.

The police and ambulance services are also in attendance, and the air ambulance is on standby.

A spokesperson for the authority said: "Clearly the main focus remains the search to recover the missing person, though fears for pollution are growing and the port authority has also mobilised its counter pollution vessels to attend the scene." [BBC Wales]

LATE NEWS:

It was reported later that the body of the missing person, a 44 year old man from the Netherlands, has been located by remote cameras and attempts are being made to recover the body.

A South Hook LNG spokesperson confirmed the death with "deep regret" and said next of kin had been informed.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family," said the spokesperson.

EXPRESS was reported to have arrived at the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's Belfast Terminal for winter lay-up around 11:15 on Thursday October 04, 2007.

The company is attributing the increase partly to the fact that more and more people may be finding that the no-frills airlines can actually be very expensive for those who cannot book their tickets well in advance.

With increased air prices at weekends and peak periods, rail and sail is apparently becoming a more popular

option for many travellers.

As Stena Line and First Scotrail offer Apex fares of just £18 single for travel from Belfast to Glasgow and Edinburgh which can be booked up to two days in advance of travel, the ferry company says it is providing a better value service.

"Rail and sail is a great option for those who want to travel between Northern Ireland and Scotland, says Stena Line head of travel market on the Irish Sea, Paul Grant. There is a common misconception that it is always cheaper to fly than it is to travel by ferry but that isn't the case, particularly at weekends and when last minute travel means that customers cannot book well in advance." "While it does take a little longer to travel by ferry, when you take into account the time it takes to travel for example to the International airport from the centre of Belfast, checking in times ahead of a flight, possible delays and then onward travel from the destination airport, it can actually take quite a long time and be exhausting in comparison to the relaxed experience of travelling by ferry and rail, which many of our passengers are discovering for themselves." adds Paul.

"Travelling as a foot passenger with Stena and Scotrail gives passengers the chance to go from the centre of Belfast to the centre of Glasgow or Edinburgh without the hassle of a long check-in, queuing for cramped seats and having to organize their own onward travel. The Stena HSS allows passengers to travel with plenty of space and, with so many onboard facilities and lots to keep both adults and kids occupied, many people tell us that they find it a very relaxing and comfortable way to cross the Irish Sea."

The MBO team, which was not entitled to vote on the resolution, is now technically precluded from making a further offer for 12 months. However, the Takeover Panel has the power to waive this ban if Aella were to come up with a compelling bid in the meantime.

Rival bidder Moonduster, a consortium made up of investment firm One51 and marine services company Doyle Group, used its 24.75pc stake to block the ?24-a-share bid. It is also understood that property developer Liam Carroll did similar with his 23.22pc holding.

Aella's offer had been carried out by a so-called scheme of arrangement, which took the process through the High Court and required the approval of 75pc of shareholders.

"The fact is, the offer was rejected by shareholders," said ICG chairman John McGuckian, adding that the independent directors and their advisers are now keen to discuss if rival bidder Moonduster is prepared to put a new offer to shareholders.

Moonduster has already said it would be unwilling to proceed with a revised scheme unless there was a reasonable prospect of it succeeding. Moonduster has placed a condition that Aella agree not to oppose it.

Meanwhile, the rivalry between both bidders descended into another war of words yesterday. Moonduster claimed that representatives of Aella had confirmed that Rothwell's team "would not be prepared to accept an offer from Moonduster at any price".

However, Aella said: "No meaningful engagement has taken place between Aella and Moonduster for a number of months and, therefore, Moonduster is not in a position to represent the views of Aella in this regard."

The risk now is that Moonduster, too, could face a 12-month ban from bidding if it does not agree soon to put in a formal offer.

Followers of the protracted takeover battle say that this would play into the hands of Carroll, who has signalled his intention of building his holding up to the 29.9pc level -- the point at which a mandatory takeover offer is triggered, under Irish takeover law.

ICG is sitting on a long-term lease on the 33 acres in Dublin Port where it is based. Aella has repeatedly said that the nature of the lease holds no development value for ICG. However, Carroll is believed to think otherwise. [Irish Independent]

Irish Ferries has received a  major accolade from the UK travel trade press by winning the 'Best Ferry

Operator' category at the TTG Awards in London.

Said head of passenger sales, Declan Mescall: We're obviously delighted to be singled out for the award which was voted on by travel agents and a panel of industry experts.

The Award comes in recognition of the unmatched quality of our fleet and the dedication and commitment of our staff ashore and on board our ships to deliver unbeatable customer service.

With self-drive holidays to Ireland by ferry seeing a resurgence in popularity due to well-documented problems with air travel, we're in a great position to enjoy sustained growth and even more awards over the coming years.

Ex