There’s a change of vessel for the fourth time this year on one of the Irish Sea routes operating out of Pembrokeshire.

Since Saturday September 14,, ferry-watchers along the Milford Haven Waterway have seen the Irish Ferries' Isle of Inisheer plying her trade between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare.

The Inisheer has been temporarily diverted from the Dover-Calais run to cover for the Isle of Innisfree which is currently in dry dock for a fortnight’s scheduled overhaul.

The Isle of |Inisfree is due to return to the route at the end of the month following scheduled repairs.The Isle of  Innisfree is due to return to the route at the end of the month following a scheduled overhaul. (Image: Irish Ferries) The route’s stalwart ship for 20 years was the Isle of Inishmore, but her switch to the English Channel in 2021 led to changes and resultant uncertainty on the Pembroke Dock to Rosslare route.

Her replacement was Blue Star 1, followed by the Oscar Wilde,  before the arrival earlier this year of the unpopular and passenger-unfriendly Norbay.

The Norbay pictured onher last scheduled sailing out of Pembrokeshire earlier this year.The Norbay pictured on her last scheduled sailing out of Pembrokeshire earlier this year. (Image: George Holland)

The Oscar Wilde (subsequently named the James Joyce) stepped in again, ahead of the arrival of the Isle of Innisfree in June,

The fact that the ferry company has chosen to take the Inisheer from the prime English Channel route to provide cover in Pembrokeshire is an indication of the company’s regard for the route, one expert ferry-watcher said.

George Holland, one of the admins of the Facebook group Irish Ferries Enthusiasts, and the author of the book Isle of Inishmore – a Ship of Ten Lives, said: “Irish Ferries has kept the Pembroke Dock route open come what may, in contrast to Stena who suspended the Fishguard service for nearly six weeks earlier this year.

The isle of Inishmore served the Pembroke Dock-Rosslare route for over two decades.
The Isle of Innismore served the Pembroke Dock-Rosslare route for  two decades. (Image: Irish Ferries) “I do believe Irish Ferries are committed to Pembroke Dock.

"They recently agreed a new contract with the port authority and although there have been a number of stop gap vessels, I think it will settle down.

“After twenty years of predictability with the Isle of Inishmore, it’s certainly been a very interesting year at Pembroke Dock for ferry enthusiasts!”