Click for Stena Line web site
Stena Europe unloading RoRo freight traffic at Port of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Stena Caledonia departs Fishguard, Pembrokeshire for Rosslare, Ireland on 12th June 2005 Stena Europe departs Fishguard for dry-dock on 28th Jan 2008; Stena Nordica arrives to take-up the run.
The then, P&O vessel "European Diplomat" loads freight and is seen departing Rosslare Europort, County Wexford, Ireland on 15th May 2004. Steam Train at Fishguard Harbour (19/08/06) Stena Lynx III docks on her berth at the Port of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, then proceeds to quay wall extension ("the extension") for lay-over till following morning. Filmed: 15th June 2003
The last of the Harland & Wolff 'Saint class' ships to remain in service in UK waters, and indeed the last Sealink ship to remain in service with Stena Line is seen docking at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Stena Europe docking at Fishguard - filmed from cliff Big rigs loading aboard Stena Europe, Fishguard, bound for Rosslare Europort, County Wexford, Ireland, on 12th December 2004.
Moby-Dick - filmed in Fishguard Stena Europe departing Fishguard on 24th August 2003 Isle of Inishmore at Rosslare Europort, County Wexford, Ireland on 25th June 2003

THE NEW YORK TIMES

FIVE-DAY TRIP NOW FROM HERE TO LONDON; Mauretania's Passengers, Leaving Here Wednesday, Dine in English Capital Monday. FISHGUARD ROUTE IS USED Atlantic Record Lowered Nearly Three Hours -- Total Traveling Time 5 Days 9 Hours and 22 Minutes.

LONDON, Aug. 30. -- The fastest transit from New York to London -- counting from the pier on the Hudson River to the station platform here -- has been reduced to 5 days 9 hours and 22 minutes by the latest achievement of the big Cunarder Mauretania on her first voyage by the Fishguard route.

RMS Mauretania (1906)

RMS Mauretania (also known as "Maury"), sister ship of the Lusitania, was an ocean liner built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, and was launched on 20 September 1906. At the time, she was the largest and fastest ship in the world. Particularly notable was her steam turbine propulsion, which was a revolutionary development in ocean liner design.[1][2] Mauretania became a favourite among the passengers,[3] attributable to her luxury, speed, and safety.[2]

The ship's name was taken from Mauretania a Roman Province on the northwest African coast, not related to the modern Mauritania. Similar nomenclature was also employed by Mauretania's sister ship, the Lusitania, which was named after the Roman province directly north of Mauretania, across the Strait of Gibraltar.


 

RMS Mauretania (Beginning)

In 1897 the German liner SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse became the largest and fastest ship in the world. With a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h), it snatched the Blue Riband from Cunard Line's Campania and Lucania. At around the same time American financier J. P. Morgan’s International Mercantile Marine Co. was attempting to monopolize the shipping trade, and had already acquired Britain's other major transatlantic line White Star. In the face of these threats Cunard Line was determined to regain the prestige of ocean travel back not only to the company, but also to Great Britain. In 1903, Cunard Line and the British government reached an agreement to build two superliners, the Lusitania and Mauretania, with a guaranteed service speed of no less than 24 knots, the British government were to loan £ 2,600,000 for the construction of Mauretania and Lusitania at an interest rate of 2.75 % to be paid back over twenty years with a stipulation that the ships could be converted to Armed Merchant Cruisers if needed, also to fund these ships further the admiralty arranged for Cunard to be paid £150,000 per year increase to their mail subsidy. In 1906, Mauretania was launched by the Duchess of Roxburghe. The main difference between the Mauretania and the Lusitania was that the Mauretania was five feet longer and had different vents (Mauretania had cowl vents and the Lusitania had oil drum shaped vents). Mauretania also had two extra stages of turbine blades in her forward turbines making her slightly faster than the Lusitania. The Mauretania and Lusitania were the only ships with direct-drive steam turbines to hold the Blue Riband; later ships had reduction-geared turbines.