Irish Ferries ordered to pay compensation to passengers affected by cancellations last summer

Irish Ferries has been ordered to pay compensation to passengers who were due to travel on its cancelled services last summer.

There was a delay to the delivery of the new WB Yeats ship which led the cancellation of sailings from Dublin to Cherbourg in France.

The regulatory body - the National Transport Authority (NTA) did not accept that the unavailability of the ferry was due to "extraordinary circumstances".

Thousands of people had to cancel or make alternative plans due to the delay.

Irish Ferries has expressed its disappointment following the decision by the NTA.

Go direct from Dublin to France! #SailinStyle aboard our brand new W.B. Yeats for the most comfortable, hassle-free holiday you can get.https://t.co/i1cfkeYrnc pic.twitter.com/jTMQHMjj7E

— Irish Ferries (@Irish_Ferries) January 21, 2019

"These cancellations were due to extraordinary circumstances which were completely outside of the company’s control," the statement said.

"Since the delay was due to unforeseen delays by the shipbuilder FSG, and was notified to passengers months ahead of planned sailings, Irish Ferries does not agree that the company infringed the relevant EU Regulation.

In dealing with its customers Irish Ferries believes it took every reasonable action to provide passengers with alternative travel options, from a no-quibble immediate refund to allow them to make alternative travel plans, as well as alternative sailings on the Oscar Wilde out of Rosslare Europort and Land bridge alternatives via the UK.

It said that a goodwill gesture of €150 discount for a sailing to France this year has already been provided to all customers impacted by the cancellations.

Irish Ferries said that "ongoing discussions with the NTA on the interpretation of EU regulation has been a critical factor in regretfully concluding that we are unlikely to operate the Oscar Wilde to France out of Rosslare in 2019".

It added: "The NTA’s approach to the Regulation has contributed to making the route commercially unviable into the future."