Hundreds left stranded as faults detain ferry sailing
Department of Marine inspectors found several deficiencies in the ship’s operations, including faults with fire fighting arrangements, safety management and crew training.
The Normandy was taken off the Irish shipping register a year ago and is now flagged in the Bahamas. She has a crew mostly of Eastern European seafarers.
Around 700 people were due to sail from Rosslare to Cherbourg, while 130 were expected to make the return journey to Ireland, in the ship’s last round-trip before Christmas.
Irish Ferries will have to apply for the ship to be inspected again by department surveyors before it is allowed to sail.
A spokesman for the ferry company - which saw sailings disrupted during an industrial dispute with Irish workers that was resolved last week - said alternative routes through Britain had been found.
He said the passengers, the vast majority of whom are travelling by car, have been booked onto services through Britain.
But they will have to drive from Pembroke, in Wales, to England’s Channel ports.
Irish Ferries has already begun to contact people who were due to travel to Ireland tomorrow, and may accommodate them on earlier alternative services, the spokesman said.
The MV Normandy is due to resume its scheduled sailings after Christmas.
