MS James Joyce

2006 ferry

For other ships with the same name, see MS Oscar Wilde and Star (ship).

Star entering Helsinki in 2007 in her original Tallink livery

History
Name|

* Star (2007–2023)
* Oscar Wilde (2023–2024)
* James Joyce (2024–2025)
* Star I (2025)
* James Joyce (2025–present)

Owner|

* Tallink (2007–2025)
* Irish Continental Group (2025–present)

Operator|

* Tallink (2007–2023)
* Irish Ferries (2023–February 2025)
* Tallink (February–May 2025)
* Irish Ferries (from May 2025 onward)

Port of registry| Limassol,  Cyprus
Route| Dublin \- Holyhead
Ordered| 1 August 2005
Builder| Aker Finnyards Helsinki Shipyard, Finland
Yard number| 1356
Laid down| 30 May 2006
Launched| 23 November 2006
Christened| 23 November 2006
Acquired| 10 March 2007
Maiden voyage| 2007
In service| 12 April 2007
Identification|

* Call sign: ESCJ
* IMO number: 9364722
* MMSI number: 276672000

Status| In service
General characteristics
Type| Fast ropax ferry
Tonnage|

* 36,249 GT
* 3,500 DWT

Length| 187.00 m (613 ft 6 in)
Beam| 27.70 m (90 ft 11 in)
Draught| 6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
Ice class| 1 A Super
Propulsion|

* 4 × MaK diesels
* combined 48,000 kW (64,000 hp)

Speed| 27 kn (50.0 km/h; 31.1 mph)
Capacity|

* 600 passengers
* 124 cabins
* 450 cars
* 2,380 lanemeters

MS James Joyce is a fast Ro-Pax cruiseferry operated by Irish Ferries; on the Dublin to Holyhead route. She was built as Star at Aker Finnyards Helsinki Shipyard, Finland for Tallink and entered service on their Helsinki to Tallinn service on 12 April 2007. She was sold to Irish Continental Group in May 2025 after a brief 20-month charter with Irish Ferries between 2023 and 2025.

## Specifications

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The ship's design is heavily based on that of SeaFrance Rodin, built by Aker Finnyards for SeaFrance in 2001.

## Construction and career

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### Tallink

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Star was the first fast ferry capable of year-round service used on the Helsinki–Tallinn route.[1] The green external livery of the ship was according to Tallink promotional material "meant to reflect the environmentally friendly aspects of the ship's design".[2] Star operated three daily departures from both Helsinki and Tallinn, each crossing taking two hours. In Tallink marketing, Star was often referred to as "Tallink Star". The ship's planned original delivery date was 5 April 2007, but this was postponed until 12 April 2007, owing to problems with the main engines.[3]

During the COVID-19 outbreak crisis the ship was assigned[4] to a government emergency service between Paldiski, Estonia, and Sassnitz, Germany to ease the transportation of goods between Estonia and Central Europe. Poland had closed its borders and required health declarations from truck drivers which introduced long truck queues on its borders and slowed transportation.

### Irish Ferries

[edit]

On 6 April 2023, Irish Ferries announced they were chartering Star from Tallink for 20 months, with possible extensions of 2+2 years, and an eventual possibility of purchase.[5][6] The ship was renamed Oscar Wilde and was initially positioned on the Rosslare – Pembroke route, replacing the also chartered Greek ferry Blue Star 1.[7]

On 31 January 2024 she was replaced on the route from Rosslare by Norbay, allowing Oscar Wilde to be deployed from 11 February 2024[8] on the company's two primary services from Dublin, sailing to Cherbourg, France on one weekend rotation and to Holyhead, Wales for the rest of the week. After new chartered ships entered service with Irish Ferries, Oscar Wilde was renamed James Joyce in May 2024.[9]

The initial 20-month charter ended in January 2025 with the first of the possible extensions not exercised. The ship sailed to Damen repair shipyard Dunkerque before being handed back to Tallink and being renamed MS Star.[10]

### Tallink

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On 24 January 2025, Tallink announced that the vessel would enter service on 9 February 2025 on the Paldiski to Kapellskär route. The press released shows Star in a different iteration of the Tallink livery to her original period operating on the Tallinn to Helsinki route.[11]

### Irish Ferries

[edit]

On 2 April 2025, Irish Continental Group released a joint statement with Tallink stating they reached a deal to purchase Star I. She will be redeployed on the Dublin - Holyhead route, initially replacing Isle of Inisheer on the route during May 2025.[12]

## References

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1. ^ "Tallink's New Vessel Star Started on Tallinn–Helsinki Route" (Press release). Tallink. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
2. ^ "Tallink's New Vessel Named Superstar" (Press release). Tallink. Archived from the original on 2008-04-15.
3. ^ "Turun Sanomat: M/S Star delayed by a week". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
4. ^ "Tallinki laev Star jätkab Paldiski-Sassnitzi liinil tihedat seilamist" [Tallink's ship Star continues to sail regularly on the Paldiski-Sassnitz line]. Delfi arileht (in Estonian). 24 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
5. ^ "Long-term charter agreement for the shuttle vessel Star" (Press release). Tallink. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
6. ^ "Irish Ferries introduces new Cruise Ferry". Irish Ferries. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
7. ^ "Oscar Wilde | Irish Ferries | Rosslare Pembroke". Irish Ferries. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
8. ^ "Stena Line Irish Sea ferry fleet January 2024 updates". NIFerrySite. 2024-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
9. ^ "Irish Ferries Name Changes for Dover Calais and Holyhead Dublin ships". Irish Ferries. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
10. ^ "Irish Ferries Fleet Dry Dockings & Movements in Post-Holyhead Reopening". afloat.ie. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
11. ^ "Tallink Grupp's passenger vessel Star returns to Estonia and starts service on Paldiski-Kapellskär route from 9 February 2025". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
12. ^ https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/news-listing/irish-ferries-confirms-addition-of-new-cruise-ferry-james-joyce-to-its-fleet/

## External links

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Media related to IMO 9364722 at Wikimedia Commons

* Tallink official website for Star
* (in Swedish) Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Star (2007)
* Star at marinetraffic.com

* v
* t
* e

Tallink Group ships

Tallink|

* Baltic Queen
* Megastar
* MyStar
* Superfast IX
* Victoria I

Silja Line|

* Baltic Princess
* Silja Serenade
* Silja Symphony

On charter|

* Galaxy I
* Silja Europa

Laid up|

* Regal Star
* Romantika
* Sailor

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