Executives at Bermuda-registered Sea Containers Ltd. are hoping that efforts at a peace accord for Northern Ireland will succeed. They believe that it could lead to a substantial increase in the Irish market for passenger ferry service.

They are about to take delivery of two SuperSeaCats from Italy for service in early 1999 in the Irish Sea. The third and fourth out of an order of six, one is scheduled for the Liverpool to Dublin route, while the other is planned for the Stranraer to Belfast line.

One of the first two is operating on a Scandinavian line between Gothenburg and Fredrikshavn, while the second is on the Dover-Calais run in the English Channel.

The 200-year-old Italian firm, Fincantieri, is the world's largest builder of passenger vessels.

David G. Benson, chief executive of the passenger transport division, said the Irish market was likely to grow significantly in the years ahead, especially is a peace accord is achieved.

But the company's existing high speed vessels on the Irish routes would be too small to cope with the increased demand by 1999.

The SuperSeaCat is 100 metres long, 25 metres longer than the smaller SeaCat, and on-board facilities include guaranteed seating for 774 passengers on two decks, a business class lounge, duty free shop, cafeteria and bars, an amusement area and a mother and baby room.

It can carry 175 cars and has a service speed of 38 knots with a full load.

Meanwhile, Sea Containers has signed heads of agreement with another Italian firm, Fiat Ferroviaria SpA, for the purchase of two high speed electric tilting trains for use by its UK rail subsidiary, Great North Eastern Railway.

Capable of speeds of up to 140 miles per hour, they are expected to cut the London to Edinburgh time to just three and a half hours.

BUSINESS BUC