Incentives for ferry operators to reopen link

THE Port of Cork, together with Associated British Ports, have agreed a joint package of incentives that will be presented to leading ferry operators in the hope of re-establishing the Cork-Swansea link.

Director of Swansea Port Matthew Kennerley, and his deputy port manager, Clive Thomas, said yesterday the loss of the route had hit the economy of south Wales equally hard.

It is estimated the south-west of Ireland lost €38 million in tourism revenue per year since the ferry service closed in 2006.

“Restarting the service is equally important from our point of view,” Mr Kennerley said.

Both parties previously outlined to major ferry operators in western Europe the economic viability of reestablishing the route

They now intend to revisit these companies hoping the “carrot” of incentives will prove sufficient.

They agreed the joint approach yesterday at a special meeting in the Port of Cork headquarters.

“If we get the right ship and the right operator we believe the service will prove to be commercially viable,” Mr Kennerley said.

Apart from the loss of tourism, both ports are also suffering from loss of freight on the route.

“The freight aspect was quite substantial. Around 10,000 units a year were transported on the ferry,” Port of Cork commercial director Michael McCarthy said.

He said freight hauliers were having to spend more money and time transporting goods through Rosslare because of the closure of the Swansea-Cork route.

“It is 240 miles overland from Cork to Swansea.

“Hauliers face stiff tachograph regulations and working-time directives. In addition, there are fuel costs and increased carbon dioxide emissions,” said Capt McCarthy

He said the Port of Cork was undertaking a study to quantify the amount of increased carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the closure of the ferry service.

“It’s challenging getting shipping lines to take it on, but all we can do is pursue and pursue again, and offer appropriate incentives,” Port of Cork chief executive Brendan Keating said.

He and his Welsh counterparts are hoping to strike a deal in the next few months.

Realistically, they know advertising the opening of a spring /summer service will have to start in December or early 2009.

But with the days of cheap flights coming to an end, both sides believe a Cork-Swansea ferry service is becoming more attractive.