Group set up to study feasibility of reinstating ferry

A high-powered group has been set up to conduct a feasibility study on reinstating a ferry service between Cork and Britain.

Cork County Council, along with the Port of Cork, Fáilte Ireland and representation from the Irish Exporters Association, are to be represented on the group which will start work almost immediately.

The announcement was made yesterday by the Mayor of County Cork Tim Lombard: “The loss of this critical access route is being very sharply felt in the south west of Ireland, the most popular tourism region in the country after Dublin.”

It is believed the lack of a ferry service could cost the region around €35m a year in lost tourism revenue.

In recent years, the south-west saw two car ferry services collapse — Cork Swansea Ferries and the Fastnet Line — which both sailed into the Welsh port.

Cllr Lombard said the absence of the route was also being felt by the manufacturing sector which also lost a vital alternative freight link to Britain.

Cork County Council and the Port of Cork Company will engage with economic analysts STS International to assess the feasibility of restoring the ferry service between Cork and Britain.

“A review of the market in which a new ferry service would operate is essential in order to confirm whether or not the commercial opportunity still exists and, if so, how this service could be re-established,” Cllr Lombard said.

There will be two strands to the study, one delving into commercial feasibility and the other focusing on the operational plan.

“The business plan will be built around the operating parameters of suitable ships that are available in the market.

“Both the original service (Swansea-Cork Ferries) and Fastnet Line operated between Cork and Swansea and the study will examine all feasible routes from Cork to Britain,” Cllr Lombard said.

STS International was established in July 2004 and specialises in economic analysis and market appraisal of the shipping, freight and passenger transport sectors, with a particular focus upon the ferry and unitised sectors.

Between 1986 and 2006, B+I, and then Swansea Cork Ferries, serviced the route.

The latter’s failure to secure a suitable vessel meant that the service did not resume in spring 2007.

However, the route was re-established in March 2010 following concerted efforts by commercial interests, private individuals, Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Kerry County Council local authorities from South Wales, the Port of Cork Company and ABP, the owners of the Port of Swansea.

The Fastnet Line, as it was known, continued operating until the autumn of 2011 when the company was placed in examinership.

However, efforts to raise €1m failed and the company was wound up.

“Both Cork County Council and the Port of Cork are determined to continue to reestablish the connectivity from Cork to the UK as it provides a vital link to the tourism sector of the region,” Cllr Lombard said.