Irish Ferries has announced that it is to purchase the ferry, m.v. Normandy, for £13.4 million (€17 million), underlining its commitment to the long-term development of its Ireland-France services.

The deal includes a major investment in the complete refurbishment of the ferry by Irish Ferries which has been operating on the companies Rosslare-Cherbourg and Rosslare-Roscoff routes for the past two years.

Mr Tony Kelly, marketing director of Irish Ferries, said that the company was now in a position to plan for the full-year operation of its continental services with confidence and certainty.

"By taking the vessel into Irish Ferries ownership, we are now free to invest in improved passenger facilities and services on board - something that would not have made economic sense while the vessel was under charter to us."

In the year to date, the Normandy has carried almost 200,000 passengers on the two routes and the company expects refurbishment work to be completed by the summer of 2001.