Ferry launch set for weekend

THE owners of the Fastnet Line are confident that their ferry the MV Julia will shortly pass maritime authority inspections and start her maiden voyage from Cork at 9pm next Saturday.

Her inaugural sailing was supposed to leave Cork last night, but it had to be cancelled after mechanical difficulties were discovered.

Conor Buckley, chairman of West Cork Tourism – which formed a cooperate to buy the 28-year-old ferry – said the problems, which were minor, were discovered last Thursday, while the ship was in dry dock in Swansea.