List of crossings of the Irish Sea

The Irish Sea separates Great Britain and the island of Ireland. The sea has been a significant trade and communications barrier between the two islands for centuries as there is no fixed crossing across it. In 2013, 7.6 megatons of trade was handled between British and Irish ports, and ferry crossings remain the most important link for heavy goods vehicles. Ferry services have continued to be significant, and 3.6 million passengers use these annually.^[1]

The main operators across the Irish Sea are P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries, Stena Line and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. ^[2]

	East side	West side	Operator	Year opened	Year closed	Notes
	Ardrossan	Larne	P&O Irish Sea (until 2001)		2001	Moved to Troon
	Troon	Larne	P&O Ferries (2001-2016) Seacat Scotland (1999-2004)	1999	2016[3]
	Cairnryan	Belfast	Stena Line	2011[4]
	Cairnryan	Larne	P&O Ferries	1973
	Stranraer	Belfast	Stena Line (1995-2011) Seacat Scotland (1992-2000)	1992	2011[4]
	Stranraer	Larne	Stena Line	1861[5]	1995
	Heysham	Belfast	Stena Line
	Heysham	Warrenpoint	Seatruck Ferries	1996
	Heysham	Dublin	Seatruck Ferries
	Liverpool	Belfast	Stena Line
	Liverpool	Dublin	P&O Ferries Seatruck Ferries
	Mostyn	Dublin	P&O Irish Sea	2001	2004
	Holyhead	Dublin	Irish Ferries Stena Line (1995-present)	1848[6]
	Holyhead	Dún Laoghaire	Stena Line	1848[7]	2014

See also

• Irish Sea fixed crossing

References

Notes

1. Aughey, Arthur; Oakland, John (2013). Irish Civilization: An Introduction. Routledge. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-317-67850-2.
2. "Londonderry and Northern Ireland with Van the Man". The Guardian. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
3. "P&O Ferries: Larne to Troon route to close with immediate effect". BBC News. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
4. "Stranraer harbour bids farewell to ferries". BBC News. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
5. Cowsill, Miles. Stranraer-Larne The Car Ferry Era. Ferry Publications. p. 4. ISBN 1871947405.
6. "History of Holyhead Port". holyhead.com. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
7. Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John. Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire From Car Ferry to HSS. Ferry Publications. p. 2. ISBN 1871947383.

Bibliography

• Cowsill, Miles (1987). Sealink British Ferries to Ireland. Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire: M. Cowsill. OCLC 560725076.
• Cowsill, Miles (1998). Stranraer–Larne: The Car Ferry Era. Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947405.
• Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (1996). Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire: From Car Ferry to HSS 1965-1996. Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947383.
• Cowsill, Miles; Hislip, Gordon (2016). Ferries of the Irish Sea: across four decades. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608644.
• Liddle, L.H. (1994). "Passenger steamers on the Irish Sea 1919-39". Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society. 18: 123 (Feb.), pp. 314–321; 124 (June), pp. 378–387. OCLC 841920277.
• Liddle, Laurence (1998). Passenger Ships of the Irish Sea: 1919-1969. Newtownards, County Down: Colourpoint Books. ISBN 1898392307.
• Merrigan, Justin (2004). Car Ferries of the Irish Sea 1954-2004. Newtownards, County Down: Colourpoint Books. ISBN 1904242251.
• Merrigan, Justin (2016). Dun Laoghaire Holyhead 1826–2015: The rise and decline of Ireland's premier route. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608828.

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.