Swansea/Cork Ferry Timeline
The first ferry service between Swansea and Cork in the Republic of Ireland was operated by the B&I Line from 1969 to 1979, and featured the company’s new purpose-built ship, the ‘Innisfallen’.
Note – the ‘Nanomark’ was introduced briefly by B&I in 1973 as a ‘freight-sweeper’, and the ‘Stena Germanica’ was chartered for part of B&I’s final season between Swansea and Cork in 1979 due to mechanical problems with the ‘Innisfallen’.
There was no ferry service between 1980 - 1986
Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd. commenced their service in April 1987 with the ‘Celtic Pride’, which operated for two seasons – 1987 and 1988. (white funnels, then white with red & blue bands)
There was no ferry service in 1989
In May 1990 the ‘Celtic Pride’ was replaced by the ‘Ionian Sun’ (former B&I ferry ‘Leinster’).
In March 1991 the refitted ‘Celtic Pride’ reintroduced and operated for two seasons – 1991 and 1992. (blue funnels with red & white bands)
The ‘Superferry ’was introduced in March 1993 and operated until 2000 (white hull).
In the spring of 2001 the ‘Egnatia II’ was chartered and renamed ‘City of Cork’.
In March 2002 the company reintroduced the ‘Superferry’ (blue hull).
At the end of the 2006 season the ‘Superferry’ was sold, signalling the end of the road for Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd.
There was no ferry service between 2007 - 2009
The Fastnet Line commenced a new Swansea-Cork service in March 2010 with m.v. ‘Julia’. This service terminated in November 2011.
Ian Rogerson