Irish Sea

Norfolk Line

Part of the giant A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, Norfolk Line operates three Irish Sea sailings a day from Heysham, two to Belfast and one to Dublin.

Larger roll-on roll-off vessels are being transferred by the Group from its North Sea routes in 2009, giving the Irish Sea sailings greater carrying capacity and enhanced driver facilities.

Both the Maersk Exporter, operating on the Belfast service, and Maersk Anglia now serving the Heysham-Dublin link, can carry 117 trailer units and 12 accompanying drivers, making the crossing at a speed of 18 knots. A similar vessel is scheduled to join the Belfast service later in 2009.

Norfolk Line sails out of Heysham for Belfast at 09.00hrs and 21.00 hrs, utilising Linkspan No 3, one of two new ship to shore bridges, introduced as the centre pieces of an £11 million enhancement of facilities by the Port.

The investment has also included acquisition of new ro-ro tractor trailor units and enlargement of the trailer park, now capable of accommodating some 1,200 units.

The Heysham-Dublin daily service sails at 02.00 hrs from No 3 Linkspan.