World’s largest ferry due in Dublin

The world’s largest car ferry is due to arrive in Dublin Port this afternoon.

The £80 million Ulysses is due to arrive from Finland following her construction for Irish Ferries.

Once she has completed final sea trials the vessel will go into service on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

In recent years the company has invested £360m in its Irish Sea fleet.

The Ulysses is bigger than any vessel currently operating or under construction. She has three miles of lanes to hold over 1,300 cars.

In addition passengers are being offered a shopping centre, two cinemas and an Irish bar to spend the three hour crossing.

The 51,000 ton vessel was constructed in Finland. Her completion will see the Irish Ferries fleet boasting four modern ships, including the high speed Jonathon Swift which also operates the Dublin-Holyhead route.

The routes out of Dublin have become highly competitive in recent years with conventional and high speed ferry links also operating to Liverpool and Stena running its HSS to Holyhead.