06.30 STRANRAER to BELFAST - STENA CALEDONIA by Charlie Tennant

Access to the ship was via the car deck and we departed Stranraer on time lightly loaded with both vehicles and foot passengers (3).

EUROPEAN TRADER was noted berthed at Cairnryan. P&O JETLINER passed inbound for Cairnryan followed by STENA GALLOWAY some 20 minutes later heading for Stranraer.

After about an hours sleep I woke to see in the distance PRIDE OF RATHLIN making for Cairnryan. LAGAN VIKING and DART 4 were both berthed in the outer harbour while HSS STENA EXPLORER was seen dry docked in Harland and Wolff.

HSS STENA VOYAGER was at its normal berth with various work crews on board and alongside carrying out repairs. Arrival at Belfast was some 10 minutes late and a further 10 minutes was lost positioning the gangway.

SEACAT SCOTLAND was still laid up at Donegal Quay where SEACAT DANMARK arrived at 10.40 and departed at 11.18.

16.30 BELFAST to STRANRAER - STENA GALLOWAY by Charlie Tennant

Prior to departure SEACAT DANMARK was noted arriving Donegal Quay at 15.18 and departing 15.56. Departure was again on time with a moderate load.

HSS STENA VOYAGER was still having work carried out at her berth. The outer harbour berths were now vacant. STENA CALEDONIA passed inbound in Belfast Lough.

Sometime later the lights of P&O JETLINER making for Larne were visible in the distance also visible off Donaghadee were lights of possibly MERSEY VIKING heading for Belfast.