Ferry sailings cancelled

THOUSANDS of passengers face disruption this weekend after Brittany Ferries cancelled its Cork-Roscoff service for the second time in a week.

Its €165 million ferry, the Pont Aven, will be unable to sail due to continuing safety problems.

Last week, safety inspectors discovered a cracked sea water cooling valve, which led to flooding in the auxiliary engine compartment.

About 2,000 passengers were due to sail from Cork to Roscoff tomorrow night. Passengers in France will be left without the service from Roscoff to Ireland.

Brittany Ferries said it was putting alternative travel arrangements in place.

General manager Hugh Bruton said: “we’re making every effort to contact our passengers. We fully understand the disappointment we’re causing people because it’s their main holiday.”

Repair work is continuing on the Pont Aven, “We are optimistic it will be ready next week. We have a team of engineers working around the clock,” Mr Bruton told RTÉ radio.