Parent firm Irish Continental Group (ICG) confirmed on Wednesday (24 November) it had agreed to acquire Spanish-built ferry Ciudad de Mahon from Trasmed GLE.
Delivery is expected by late-January 2022, with ICG hopeful of bringing the ship into service during the first-quarter of 2022.
Ciudad de Mahon is a ro-ro – roll-on, roll-off – ferry with capacity for 589 passengers.
The acquisition marks another significant investment by the group in the Dover-Calais route after Irish Ferries commenced operations on the route in late-June with Isle of Inishmore.
Earlier this month, the group took delivery of Isle of Innisfree – an ex-Calais Seaways vessel – which will become the second ICG vessel to be deployed on the route after a period in drydock.
Isle of Innisfree is expected to commence sailings on the route in December.
"The introduction of these two vessels, representing a total investment of €35.5m (£30 million), alongside the Isle of Inishmore completes our previously announced plan to introduce three vessels on the Dover-Calais route," said ICG.
"This will allow Irish Ferries to offer up to 30 sailings per day on the route with sailings in each direction approximately every 90 minutes."
