Guinness Ireland has sold its Shannon cruiser company, Emerald Star Line, to the English company Porter Haylett for an undisclosed sum.

Porter Haylett, based in Norfolk, operates the 400-strong Connoisseur fleet in Britain and Europe. The Emerald Star Line fleet consists of 200 boats with bases in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, Portumna, Co Galway and Belturbet, Co Cavan

The director of Porter Haylett, Mr Tim James, said that, with the addition of Emerald Star Line, the company would be operating a fleet of boats valued at £20 million.