The Stena Explorer service from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead has been withdrawn following an accident at sea last Wednesday.
The high-speed ship had 300 passengers on board when it hit an object below the surface as it approached the inner harbour entrance at the Port of Holyhead before 6pm on Wednesday.
The catamaran, said to be the world's largest high-speed ferry of this type, sustained damage to its starboard pontoon or hull and some water was taken on board through the breach.
The damaged area was closed off to prevent more water coming in and there was some listing. The vessel berthed in Holyhead and unloading was delayed until its balance could be corrected by taking on water on the ship's portside.
The 300 passengers disembarked and the cars and freight were unloaded safely once balance was corrected.
The HSS Stena Explorer had only resumed service on the Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead route on February 9th after being given a full service. It is expected to run again on March 3rd.
Passengers booked on the vessel, which normally operates three daily sailings, will be transferred to the Stena Adventurer, which works out of Dublin Port.
Expected traffic travelling over from Wales for the rugby match on February 26th will also be diverted through Dublin.
A spokesman for Stena Line said the damage to the vessel was identified immediately and at no point were passengers and crew in any danger.
"Stena Line is conducting surveys to try to locate the obstruction at the entrance to the inner harbour," he said. "The vessel is berthed in Holyhead and divers are assessing the damage."
He said that the marine coastguard in Britain had been notified of the incident and added that because of the time of year, the Stena Adventurer would comfortably cope with the extra capacity diverted from Dún Laoghaire.
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Marine said that because the ship was registered in the UK and the incident happened in British territorial waters, it would not be investigating it.
A spokesman for Holyhead Port said it would conduct its own inquiry into the incident.
