Norse Merchant Ferries

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Norse Merchant Ferries (previously Norse Irish Ferries) was an Irish Sea RoRo ferry company. It was acquired by Norfolk Line in 2005. Routes operated by the company included Liverpool (Birkenhead) - Belfast/Dublin and Heysham - Belfast. All the routes that Norse Merchant Ferries operated are now operated by Norfolk Line.

[edit] Improvements to fleet

In 2005, the first of the Cantiere Navale di Visentini Francesco & Co. Italian built ships, Lagan Viking, was delivered on a three year charter to Norse Merchant Ferries (with an option to buy after three years) and replaced the Liverpool Viking (formally Lagan Viking). Later on in the year the Lagan Viking' sister ship, Mersey Viking, was delivered and replaced the Dublin Viking (formally Mersey Viking). Both of the new ships currently run the Birkenhead - Belfast route and can carry 970 passengers. In February of 2006 the Lagan Viking was re-painted with the Norfolk Line name and markings, but to this day (17th March 2007) the marginally newer Mersey Viking still sails with the Norse Merchant flag on the funnel, but with the norsemerchant.com branding on her hull painted over in red.