In 2002, the Norsea and Norsun were replaced by the much larger Pride of Hull and Pride of Rotterdam and as a result, Norbay and Norbank became surplus to requirement and were removed from the Hull to Rotterdam route before being transferred to the Irish Sea and entering service on the Liverpool to Dublin route.

Due to restrictions on length at the P&O North Channel berths, Norbay has provided refit cover for both European Causeway and European Highlander in previous years as she is one of the few remaining P&O vessels which can fit within these restrictions.

In 2017, the Dover-based freighter, European Seaway provided refit relief instead, taking advantage of the fact that the now upgraded berth at Cairnryan can handle larger vessels.

[3] Preceding the closure of P&O Ferries’ Liverpool to Dublin service, Norbay was chartered to Irish Ferries initially for a period of 6 months[4] and placed on the Dublin to Holyhead and Cherbourg routes entering service on 5 November 2023.

Irish Ferries market the ship as an “economy class service” with limited passenger facilities.