St David - Blockade!

Blockade at Dun Laoghaire, the St David squares up to the Munster. Justin Merrigan Collection

The announcement of B+I Line’s intention to open a new route between Dublin and Holyhead in March 1982 provoked an angry response from the Welsh side of the Irish Sea. Sealink port workers at Holyhead, fearful for their livelihoods, immediately refused to handle the B+I ship, threatening to “line the quays” if she appeared off the port. Appear she did, on 28th February, and having been met by a blockade of small boats across the mouth of the inner harbour she was forced to return to Dublin having failed in her attempts to carry out berthing trials. On 2 March the inaugural commercial sailing was cancelled as attempts to break the deadlock commenced but by 8 March progress had still not been made and with B+I determined to open their new route the Connacht once again sailed for Holyhead. On arrival off the port she was again faced with the full fury of port workers and after an hour and a half waiting outside Capt Frank Devaney had no alternative but to return to Dublin.

As a schoolboy Dun Laoghaire Harbour was my playground and as Ireland emerged from a long dark winter the stretching spring evenings enticed me to the port to watch the early evening arrival of St David from Holyhead in daylight. While making my way towards the Carlisle Pier I stopped at the head of the East Pier to survey the scene. It was there I overheard a group of men discussing plans to block the harbour entrance with a number of “inflatables and perhaps the Tipperary to help us”, the latter being B+I’s Dublin – Fleetwood ro-ro vessel.

Immediately, I informed the Harbour Police who, I’m sure, did not believe what I had to say. However, if they did doubt me then their misgivings were to be shortlived.

The repeated failure of their ships to berth at Holyhead led B+I crews to take retaliatory action. While the Connacht was returning to Dublin a crew boarded the laid-up Munster and sailed her across Dublin Bay to Dun Laoghaire where she dropped anchor in the mouth of the harbour. Her intentions, to prevent access to any Sealink vessel.


Sealink workers block the entrance to Holyhead's Inner Harbour, preventing the arrival of the Connacht. © Tony Jones
The St David slips past the Holyhead blockade unaware of what is unfolding on the Irish side. © Tony Jones

With a one hour and 30 minutes head start over the returning Connacht, Sealink’s St David approached Dublin Bay at 1800 to find her way into the harbour well and truly blocked.

I can recall this most incredible sight. Seeing the blue and white-hulled Munster sailing across Dublin Bay towards Dun Laoghaire was unusual in itself, but to then watch as she slowed and manoeuvred across the mouth of the harbour seemed quite surreal.

The scene from the East Pier. Bryan Holmes, courtesy Irishships.com

On the bridge of the approaching St David there was a similar feeling as Capt. Idwal Pritchard and his officers looked at ways of getting their ship into Dun Laoghaire. Calling the Munster by VHF radio to ask of their intentions Capt. Pritchard was initially met with silence but the Irish ship eventually indicated they would not be moving. Asking if the Munster was anchored the St David was given a blunt “yes”.

The St David moves astern. Bryan Holmes, courtesy Irishships.com

Then followed the first of several attempts to break the blockade. The St David went for a gap between the Munster’s bow and the East Pier lighthouse, prompting a warning from the Munster’s Master that small boats were placed between his ship and the wall. The St David moved astern, coming to rest about a ship’s length from the anchored vessel. She then made another run for a gap between the Munster’s stern and the West Pier but using her engines, the B+I ship moved to block the ship again. Still the St David continued her approach, finally coming to a halt seemingly within a few feet of the Munster. The Irish ship was completely dwarfed but nonetheless unperturbed by the “David”. After a few breath-taking moments the St David again moved astern.

Standoff! Bryan Holmes, courtesy Irishships.com

From ashore there was no doubt; the Munster had placed himself and the St David in a highly dangerous situation. A highly manoeuvrable vessel, Capt. Pritchard had full command of his ship and was able to do exactly what he wanted with her.

This game of cat and mouse continued for well over an hour but each time the Munster thwarted the British ship’s attempts. Finally, shortly before midnight the St David returned to Holyhead for stores and a reappraisal of the situation.

The St David enters Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Bryan Holmes, courtesy Irishships.com

The following morning, with Capt Pritchard once again on the bridge, the St David reappeared off Dun Laoghaire again finding the Munster firmly blockading the harbour entrance. However, by now the Sealink ferry had an unwell passenger on board and following a doctor’s call for urgent medical treatment the Munster moved aside on humanitarian grounds. Sailing through the harbour entrance at a rate of knots the St David quickly proceeded to her Carlisle Pier Berth. After a very quick turnaround the St David sailed again for Holyhead and with all sailings suspended until further notice the B+I ship returned to her berth in Dublin.

On 7th April B+I’s Leinster finally entered Holyhead unopposed. Reinstated members of the National Union of Railwaymen who had previously been dismissed for refusing to work B+I ships handled her at the Station Berth. With the Welsh Dragon and the Red Ensign flying from her mast the Leinster occupied the berth vacated 30 minutes earlier by the St Columba. Holyhead’s link with Ireland was reopen after one long month without sailings.