23 February 2004

Heysham to Belfast route to get extra daily sailing

The Heysham to Belfast ferry service is to have an extra daily sailing added to its schedule from the beginning of March, it was announced today.

NorseMerchant Ferries' Managing Director, Phillip Shepherd said the decision to upgrade sailings follows a successful restructuring of the company last year.

"Our services from Heysham provide vital trading links to both Dublin and Belfast from a single departure point," he said.

"This is important for our existing freight clients, particularly in the unaccompanied and trade car sectors.

"With further restrictions on driver hours and the ever increasing cost of road miles, we expect the services from Heysham to become even more significant and we will develop these routes accordingly."

The third sailing will enable the company to offer two overnight sailings from Heysham to Belfast at 19.30 hours and 23.30 hours, plus a daytime sailing at 09.00 hours. Return sailings from Belfast will be at 07.30 hours, 11.30 hours and 21.00 hours.

(MB)