ICG Cuts First Steel For New €144 Million Irish Ferries Cruise Ferry

Eamonn Rothwell, Chief Executive of Irish Continental Group plc accompanied by Andrew Sheen, Managing Director of Irish Ferries today (Friday, April 7th 2017) visited the shipyard of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesselschaft & Co.KG in Flensburg, Germany to oversee the cutting of the first steel plate for use in the construction of their new €144million cruise ferry, which is scheduled for delivery in mid 2018.

(L-R) Mr. Eamonn Rothwell – Chief Executive – Irish Continental Group plc; Mr. Rüdiger Fuchs – CEO – Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (FSG); Mr. Andrew Sheen – Managing Director – Irish Ferries and Mr. David Ledwidge – Chief Financial Officer – Irish Continental Group plc.

When in service, the vessel will accommodate 1,885 passengers and crew, with 435 cabins and with capacity for 2,800 lane metres of freight (165 freight vehicles) plus an additional dedicated car deck with capacity for 300 passenger cars.

“This first steel cutting is more than symbolic and starts the practical construction of our new build. This investment underpins the confidence the Group has in both the freight and passenger tourism markets between Ireland, Britain and France”, Mr. Rothwell said.