Date: 29 July, 2008
Time: 17:03

Comments

caledonian / tuxedo princess now leaves gateshead tyne for greece

Date: 27 July, 2008
Time: 22:24

Comments

Hi Just to let you know the Caledonian Princess (Tuxedo Princess) berthed at Gateshead has now departed the river for new pastures in Greece...

Thought if may be of interest to people..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7527792.stm

Date: 22 July, 2008
Time: 11:35

Comments

Great work Justin...fantastic reading, brings back many good childhood memories. Cheers mate! :)

Date: 20 July, 2008
Time: 01:20

Comments

a very slick presentation ! well done justin

Date: 19 July, 2008
Time: 12:41

Comments

A very interesting web site that brings back lots of memories. Although I no longer reside in Holyhead my father (Sam Jones or Sam Goch as he was known)worked on the boats from the age of fourteen until he retired.

Mary Tomsett (nee Jones)

Date: 15 July, 2008
Time: 12:57

Comments

I travelled the Irish Sea most summers during the seventies. i was only a young lad then but always remember a crossing on the 'Duke of Lancaster'. It had been a rough crossing, not unusual, my mother took me and my eldest brother onto the top deck, where most people where holding on tight and experiencing sea sickness. My dad and younger brother slept the whole journey.(lucky sods) As we approached Holyhead, the captain's voice came over the tannoy.' can all passengers please remain where they are as we are taking up the stabalisers' At this point my mother noticed a priest who had started praying. We joined in and we were never so glad to reach dry land and get on a train as that day. In subsequent years as we approached holyhead we always prayed that it would be 'The Big One' this year (St Columba). Happy days.... Patrick (warrington)

Date: 15 July, 2008
Time: 11:36

Comments

A most enjoyable site. An excellent selection of photographs and interesting contributions. Keep up the good work.

Captain David Box

Date: 02 June, 2008
Time: 12:40

Comments

Nice Website

On the pictures of the 'Holyhead Officers' you have a a picture of 'The late Dr Crilly, of Rhosneigr, enjoys a visit to the bridge with John Langley R/O'

I'm afraid to tell you but Dr Crilly is still very much Alive

Whoops!  Many thanks - information came from one of the Masters!  I am sure he will be delighted to learn Dr Crilly is still with us!!  Rgds, Justin

Date: 01 June, 2008
Time: 00:35

Comments

I just happened upon this Website as I was checking out information on Dun Laoghaire. I've been living in Los Angeles for over 30 years now but I was born and raised in the town of Dun Laoghaire and I went to school in Eblana Ave. ( Christian Bros...). This Website brings back rich memories of an incredible childhood living in the center of town in Dun Loghaire. My large family lived in a large house where Marine Road and Upper George's Street intersected. My old home is long gone now, as it was knocked down to make way for the Dun Laoghaire Shopping Center. I remember running down to the pier to see the Mailboat coming in. It's was always an exciting event and it was great to see all the people coming off the boats. It was especially fun when we were fishing off our small little boat outside the habour and seeing the "huge" ship passing us by in the open waters. When I tell my friends of my treasured childhood in Dun laoghaire and all my adventures in and around the habour, they are filled with amazement. What a great childhood !! Thanks Dun Laoghaire and all the boats that sailed in it !!!!

Fantastic!  I fully understand the excitement you describe - wonderful memories!  Kind regards,  Justin

Date: 24 May, 2008
Time: 11:48

Comments

Two former workmates would very much like to make contact with Simon Mills (Master of Stena Explorer) . Myself, Andrew Purser worked with Simon during his time on the seacats out of Liverpool and Simon Radcliff, who was a cadet with Simon. We are both in New Zealand, Simon as Master and myself as Chief Engineer on Strait Shippings interisland ferry the 'Santa Regina. Would be extremely grateful if you could pass on our contact details which are: master@mvsr.strait.co.nz or chief@mvsr.strait.co.nz  I have also worked with Captain Richard Davies, Captain John Garner and Captain Trevor Bailey on the Stena Londoner a few years back. I also have many memories of Justin Merrigan during my time on the seacats and superseacats at the Port of Dublin. It was wonderful to come across this web page and get a few blasts from the past. It's a real good site that I shall continue to visit from the other side of the world. It really would be fabulous if you could ask Simon to get in touch. My home email address is: andsupurser@xtra.co.nz  It would also be great to hear from Justin again. Last I heard he was at Incat in Tasmania, just over 'the ditch' from us here in Kiwi land!

Hi guys!  I have received both your emails, so I will reply to those very soon!  In the meantime, I will try to ensure that all those named above are aware of this message!  Yes, still in Tassie with Incat and indeed I spent six months in Wellington a few years back on secondment to the TopCat operation.  Please give my regards to Sheryl Mateni!!  Cheers, Justin

Date: 19 May, 2008
Time: 22:35

Comments

yes i love this website it relly good 10 out of 10 keep your good work up , its relly good so see ship you were on when i younger

Date: 16 May, 2008
Time: 12:35

Comments

This site along with its photographs really brought back many happy memories of my many journeys to/from Ireland.

Neil MacDonald Gateshead

Date: 10 May, 2008
Time: 23:40

Comments

PLEASE SEND MY KIND REGARDS TO CAPTAIN SIMON MILLS WHO HELPED AVOID A MINOR COLLISION WHEN BERTHING ON NOVEMBER 5TH CELEBRATIONS AT "THE BARGE"... A FINE YOUNGS PUB RIVER THAMES, I,M SURE HE WOULD BE MORE THAN PLEASED TO FILL IN THE DETAILS OF THE MUTINY TO HIS ESTIMED COLLEAGUES AT SEALINK.. KIND REGARDS JONNY MARTIN

Hi Jonny, I have passed your comment to Simon who has explained EVERYTHING!!!!  Rgds,  Justin

Date: 29 April, 2008
Time: 09:01

Comments

hi justin, wouldnt be without this site, at the moment im collecting postcards of all the ships that have been in holyhead i have most i was wondering if you or anybody else who visits this site knows if they published any of the following ships on postcards prinsessan desiree stena voyager trearddur dalrinda any of the slieve boats or the 2 container boats and the auersberg keep up the good work. regards alan

Hi Alan. Sealink wouldn't have produced anything of the Desiree, and as the Tre-arrdur was a ship in lay-up they wouldn't have done anything there either.  The container ships would not have been worthy I'm sad to say. As for the Stena Voyager, I am sure that you would find plenty in the shops around Stranraer.  Kind regards, Justin.

Date: 11 April, 2008
Time: 10:27

Comments

Lovely to see the old place again, now living in Australia. Left from here in the sixties...Ray ..Sydney Australia,,,love your site.........

Thanks Ray, really glad you enjoy it!  Rgds, Justin

Date: 29 March, 2008
Time: 18:16

Comments

Loved having a look around, especially at the pictures of past crews. I may even have found a relative amongst them. Would be good to know if there's anyone still around who knew her.

Let us know who it is and then we might be able to help!  Kind rgds, Justin

Date: 25 March, 2008
Time: 21:24

Comments

Its very good. given me hours of pleasure.

Date: 18 March, 2008
Time: 01:11

Comments

Further to bcanavan's comments (Dec 2007) regarding people coming over to England in the late 1940's 1950', I know people who say they came via Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead, cattle were on the boat and it was the norm then. Other friends, Dubliners, say the cattle boats only went from Dublin port. Can anyone tell me who is right? Or is it possible that cattle boats left from both ports in those post-world war 2 years?

No, cattle was never shipped via Dun Laoghaire. The Railway company only carried cattle from Dublin and the only passengers on those ships were usually drovers and traders.  It was however the norm to carry passengers on the old B&I cattle ships sailing to Liverpool via Birkenhead.  Rgds, Justin

Date: 16 March, 2008
Time: 17:16

Comments

i sailed on this wonderful ship as a yonug boy at the weekends as much as i could and i enjoyed every minute of it this ship has a special place in my heart and i will always miss her and maybe ill get the chance to sail with her again and stroll down memory lane again .tony

Hi Tony, which ship are you referring to?  Rgds, Justin

Date: 12 March, 2008
Time: 19:02

Comments

Great picture of the Earl Godwin

Date: 12 March, 2008
Time: 13:21

Comments

arthur kieran 12/3/08

dear justin,

are there any photos of the break up of the hibernia or holyhead ferry one ?

I wish Arthur!  Very doubtful I'm afraid. Kind Rgds, Justin

Date: 10 March, 2008
Time: 21:29

Comments

What a fantastic website. i have only just found it and i am particularly interested in the old piers at Dun Lagohaire. The articles on the web site fully put me in the picture about the old piers as to where they were before the new terminal was built for Stena. i have lots of photos of the irish ships of recent years if you would like to display on on your website. I would love to correspond with people who loved the ferries of the Irish Sea. I think that your site is brill.

Clive Eardley

Thank you Clive!  Unfortunately you have left no way of contacting you!  Please feel free to contact us via the email button on the What's new page, or sign up for the Sealink Group. Rgds, Justin

Date: 26 February, 2008
Time: 15:40

Comments

Thank you for this very interesting Documentation of Sealink History concerning ships an Master Officers, I was travelling often on the route Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire during the 80 th . It's nice to see twenty Years later who had been the Masters and to know the history of the ships, thank you it's a great site !! Patrick Graf

Thanks Patrick!  Rgds, Justin

Date: 26 February, 2008
Time: 14:46

Comments

Justin,

I just made contact with an old classmate of mine from C.B.S Eblana..not seen him for 40 years... He is a Bray fella, James Devitt and was until retirement an engineer with the opposition Irish Ferry Ferries... Met him thru 'other site' Kind regards Enviro500......D 823

Date: 03 February, 2008
Time: 19:06

Comments

hi just got internet installed, finding this so interesting. my mother worked on Princess Maud as a nurse round the 40,s. anyone out there who might of worked with her or is related to anyone who might of done the same.

Date: 02 February, 2008
Time: 00:53

Comments

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26919

Urban Explores on the Duke Of Lancaster

Internal pictures

Madddyyy

Date: 31 January, 2008
Time: 20:22

Comments

The site goes from strength to strength........ I am a resident in the virtual world of Secondlife and have written books in and about Secondlife. I worked on the St Columba for 14 years and i have a very exciting and unique project. I am going to fathfully recreate her from the 1986 build of Sealink days.

For more information and to follow this build please go here.

http://st-columba-sealink.blogspot.com/

for contact details please email me at Madddyyy@gmail.com

Date: 26 January, 2008
Time: 19:56

Comments

looked on this site in relation to the duke of lancaster.. discovered her recently in wales and think i might have sailed in her as a child... pity to see her rot.. would love to see her back in belfast... pj

Date: 17 January, 2008
Time: 11:47

Comments

As a former crew member it is nice to see a site dedicated to the history of the the ferries that brings back many good memories

Date: 15 January, 2008
Time: 15:10

Comments

Hi Justin,

Best wishes for 2008 and lots of Seacat sales also

Artice to be shown on RTE /TG4 late Jan about Sarah Is. Tasmania and Deportees in mid 1800s.. for your interest

Dave O'Connor

Date: 14 January, 2008
Time: 20:03

Comments

very good, I used to sail on her as a passenger

Roderick J Carlyle

Date: 12 January, 2008
Time: 22:40

Comments

Good website. I like to see ships and I created my own site with pics from the Gulf of Naples. http://www.capri.fotopic.net/ if you like to visit it. Stefano

Date: 10 January, 2008
Time: 17:40

Comments

hi gents any new news on where the big C is at the moment as i would like to go and travel on her and get us some new pictures !! Robbie Irwin nottingham

Date: 31 December, 2007
Time: 10:14

Comments

I was interested to read in the section on 'The Irish Cattle Boats' that they only occasionally carried passengers, yet may older Irish people in Britain speak of coming over after the war in 'cattle boats' and some actually speak of hearing the cattle on the decks. Is this a case of 'false memory' or an urban myth, or an oversight on on the part of the authors. bcanavan@hotmail.com

They would most likely be talking of sailing on the ships of the British & Irish Steam Packet  from Dublin to Liverpool. As far as I know, some of their ships would call at Birkenhead to discharge cattle before continuing to Liverpool with passengers. Rgds, Justin