Irish Ferries shipping company expressed its disappointment with a notice issued by the National Transport Authority (NTA) regarding cancellations after the delayed arrival of the company’s new vessel. Specifically, NTA ordered the Irish company to pay compensation due to the delayed W.B. Yeats delivery from German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) and cancellation of the ship’s services in the summer of 2018.
Mainly, according to the ruling published on January 28, NTA orders the company to compensate the passengers who were delayed by cancellations depending the cost of the ticket.
The company firstly informed the public about the vessel delivery on April 21, 2018. Consequently, on June 12, 2018, Irish Ferries noted that
These cancellations were due to extraordinary circumstances which were completely outside of the company’s control.
Also the company informed that it had no option but to cancel all the planned sailings to France for the vessel for the summer.
Moreover, the company supports that all passengers were informed of the postponement months ahead. That’s why, the company does not see eye to eye with the EU Regulation.
Concluding, Irish Ferry stated that it has tried to engage with the NTA by offering to enter into a mediation process without any preconditions,
Yet, the NTA have not taken up the offer. Irish Ferries said it would appeal the NTA’s decision in the courts, including, if needed, the European Court of Justice.