Govt 'must step in to save ferry future'

Leading Cork business figures have called on the government to step in and secure the future of Swansea Cork Ferries.

The company announced yesterday that they are to suspend all of their services for 2007 after failing to secure a new vessel.

They sold their 35-year-old ship in October last year after it was agreed that an offer in the region of €6m for the vessel was too good to turn down.

They have spent the last number of months attempting to secure a new vessel in the hope that 30 job losses and the route cancellation could be avoided.

A comment was not available from company managing director Thomas Hunter McGowan, but a company spokesman today said that every effort possible had been made to locate a new ship but that it was too late to save the service for 2007.

He said that following a traumatic few days the company would resume their search to source a ship for 2008.

It is understood that the company are extremely keen to ensure that the business does not collapse completely and hopes remain high that the services can resume in 12 months.

However industry sources say that as well as there being a shortage of ferries on the European market at the moment, any ferry serving the Swansea — Cork route required specific characteristics to enter Swansea Port, making the buying process even more difficult.

Solicitor, Charlie Hennessy and, investment consultant, Pat Dineen who were involved in the restoration of the Cork-Swansea ferry link in the early eighties, today called on the government to help the company secure a new ferry.

“The ferry is vital to the region and we must now see the State offer whatever support is necessary. If necessary the State should be prepared to take over the company and operate it as a state service, as it is vital to the tourism industry in the south west,” Mr Hennessy told The Evening Echo.

A recent economic report shows that the service is worth some €35m to the region of Cork and Kerry annually.

A number of other local business leaders said that Cork industry would reel from the massive financial losses that would be felt with the loss of the service.

Conor Healy, chief executive of the Cork Chamber and Donal Healy, leader of the Cork Business Association (CBA) both urged the Government to step in and intervene.

Minister for Enterprise Micheal Martin said he will be holding talks with Minister for Tourism John O’Donoghue.