Irish Ferries - history recorded in New Book

Irish Ferries and the story of its involvement in the development of passenger and freight ferry services between Ireland, UK and Continental Europe is the subject of a new book entitled 'Irish Ferries - An Ambitious Voyage' being distributed by Easons and sold through bookshops around Ireland.

Written by noted marine historians Miles Cowsill and Justin Merrigan - and published by specialist Isle of Man publishers Ferry Publications - the 150-page hard-back production traces the path that the Irish Ferries organisation has taken from its very earliest days operating services on the Irish Sea between Ireland and Britain under the B&I Line flag.

The book chronicles the development of direct ferry services between Ireland and France and the role played by Irish Continental Line before that company and B&I Line came together in the early 1990s to form the enlarged enterprise known today as Irish Ferries.

Covered in some detail is the ship building and modernisation programme carried out by the company which resulted in the commissioning of four new vessels for the company's Dublin-Holyhead and Rosslare-Pembroke routes, including the cruise ferry 'Ulysses' which, at the time of its launch, was the world's largest car ferry.

Amply illustrated with pictures drawn from various private and company archives, the book is one that will appeal to all involved in shipping and maritime history.