**Further Delays in Holyhead Port Reopening as Stena Line Expresses Frustration**
The much-anticipated reopening of Holyhead Port’s Terminal 3, which has been out of action since sustaining serious damage during Storm Darragh last December, has been postponed yet again. Ferry operator Stena Line confirmed the facility will not resume operations until mid-July, leaving both customers and staff facing continued disruption to one of Britain’s vital sea links with Ireland.
Terminal 3 at the North Wales port was severely affected in the run-up to Christmas, forcing a full closure of all ferry services at the site. While Terminal 5, which had suffered lesser damage, was partially restored and allowed for a gradual resumption of sailings from January, the overall setback caused significant logistical headaches for both freight and passenger traffic moving between Holyhead and Dublin.
Stena Line, which manages the majority of crossings, acknowledged the progress made so far in undertaking what it called “significant repairs,” but conceded that the complexity and scale of the works have pushed back the timeline. In a statement, the company said: “Repairs to Terminal 3 have required extensive engineering and heavy lifting, much of which involved underwater works. Since the storms, teams have operated relentlessly, whenever conditions allowed, often working through the night.”
Despite expressing appreciation for the efforts of engineers, Stena Line said reopening Terminal 3 on the previously announced date of 1 July would no longer be possible. The company now anticipates services will resume from the damaged berth on 15 July—two weeks later than scheduled.
“In light of the enormous technical challenges, the delay, albeit a minor one, should not overshadow the achievements thus far,” a spokesperson added. “We sincerely apologise to all customers and ferry users for any inconvenience and thank them for their ongoing patience and understanding.”
In the interim, ferry operators Stena Line and Irish Ferries have been sharing Terminal 5 at Holyhead, striving to maintain a normal volume of sailings despite the pressure on the port’s infrastructure. This arrangement is set to continue until Terminal 3 returns to active service.
Johan Edelman, trade director (Irish Sea South) at Stena Line, admitted the company’s disappointment at the setback but emphasised the necessity of the ongoing repairs. “We fully appreciate the magnitude and exacting nature of the work being carried out since last December,” he said. “Although we regret that our full schedule cannot yet be restored, we have been able to maintain continuity on the Holyhead-Dublin route with schedule adjustments.”
Edelman also offered reassurances that affected customers would be contacted directly by Stena Line’s support teams, who are working to minimise any further disruption. “We’re grateful for the support of our staff, port customers, and the wider community during this period. We remain committed to returning to our normal timetable as soon as possible once Terminal 3 is back online,” he said.
The closure of the busiest Welsh port has underscored Holyhead’s crucial role as a gateway for trade and travel between the UK and Ireland. The impact has not only been felt by holidaymakers and local businesses dependent on cross-Irish Sea traffic, but also by haulage and logistics firms operating between the two countries.
As Holyhead Port approaches full restoration, both ferry operators and local authorities are hopeful that the lessons learned from this period of disruption will feed into future resilience planning. Meanwhile, anticipation is building among regular users who await a return to smoother, more reliable ferry crossings between North Wales and Dublin later this summer.