Last gasp bid to save ferry fails

Red tape and inflexible EU state aid rules have been blamed for the collapse of the Cork-Swansea ferry service which was wound up by order of the High Court yesterday.

“The funds were there to allow us to continue but, despite the best efforts of all involved, state aid rules and red tape choked off the ferry’s chances of sailing again in March 2012,” said Noel Murphy, chairman of the West Cork Tourism Co-operative which owns the service operator, Fastnet Line.

“Our efforts fell at the final hurdle,” Mr Murphy told a press conference on board the MV Julia berthed on Horgan’s Quay in Cork. He said funds pledged by supporters in Ireland and Wales and by local councils in Cork and Kerry were insufficient to reinvigorate the service.