Irish Ferries ship held after safety faults found

A safety audit will be carried out on Thursday, December 21st, on an Irish Ferries ship detained at Rosslare Harbour by inspectors from the Department of the Marine.

A spokesman for the department said the ship had been detained after surveyors uncovered three safety deficiencies during a routine inspection.

The deficiencies were fire-fighting measures, safety management and crew safety training. The spokesman said that it was up to the company to correct the defects and seek a re-inspection.

About 700 passengers who had been due to sail to Cherbourg on the MV Normandy were accommodated on other services via Britain.

At least 130 passengers had been due to depart from Cherbourg on the return sailing to Ireland on Thursday.

An Irish Ferries spokesman said a technical fault was being repaired on Wednesday when inspectors boarded the vessel and decide to seek a full, independent, safety audit.

Official records show that both the French and Irish authorities have taken an increased interest in the Normandy since crew on board were outsourced.

The inspection carried out by the department was the second examination of the Normandy in 2005.

Before the last inspection in July, there had been no such examinations of the ship by the Irish authorities since 1999. French officials have also carried out two inspections of the ship in 2005.