News
Ferry passengers in rough 26 hour ride
A FERRY which failed to fully dock at Fishguard yesterday has now arrived back in port after more than twenty six grueling hours in rough seas, it’s owners have confirmed.
The Stena Europe left Rosslare Harbour on Saturday morning and should have arrived in Pembrokeshire on Saturday at lunchtime.
Cleddau Radio has reported that a number of foot passengers were able to disembark before conditions worsened. According to reports a mooring rope snapped forcing the vessel to leave the port before car and freight traffic could off load.
A passenger on board posting on Facebook page described very rough conditions entering Fishguard Harbour as the ship listed heavily.
On Saturday night (Jan 31) Rachel Crombie posted on Facebook: “Sally, my friend, is aboard and they’re up near Barmouth now, hoping to dock back down in Fishguard tomorrow morning, but a lorry has overturned on board so actually getting anyone who’s on with a vehicle is going to take hours if and when they finally dock.”
Ms Crombie added: “Sally has said the captain took the stabilisers off as they came into Fishguard harbour and they rolled massively, cue smashing glass from the bar and slamming doors then rolled the other way and that’s when the lorry went. They came in the wrong way and because of the lorry blocking the exit, it was decided that they’d head off up to calmer waters and wait it out and try again tomorrow.”
Ms Crombie’s account has not been confirmed by the ferry operator.
A marine traffic website showed that the ferry headed north, taking shelter off the Llyn peninsula overnight. The vessel with the crew and most of the passengers still on board then made the return journey to Pembrokeshire, south through Cardigan Bay on Sunday morning (Feb 1). The Stena Europe arrived back in port shortly before 12 midday Sunday in much calmer conditions.
Stena Line has confirmed to The Pembrokeshire Herald that normal timetabled services have now resumed.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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Ferryguy
February 1, 2015 at 8:27 pm
the stablisers have to be taken in before comming into the break water to allow the ferry to turn and to create a more stable journey in shallow water. They also need to be in when comming alongside as they stick out of the ship!
Sally Prendergast
February 1, 2015 at 9:54 pm
I am the Sally mentioned in the article!
I completely understand that the stabilisers must
be brought in for approach- it just happened to
Coincide with a massive gust of wind (60mph according
to the crew) hitting the side as we turned. This wasn’t in the
weather forecast. None of the crew, inuding the
experienced members we spoke to, had seen anything
like it before. The whole episode was alarming but
The crew were very reassuring and accommodating.
Food, drinks and cabins were provided without
question. However I do question the wisdom of setting
out in such poor weather as there was no room for handling
Conditions above and beyond those forecast. Very glad to
be safely home tonight!