Belfast-Troon SeaCat service ends today

The SeaCat ferry service between Belfast and Troon ended today.

Spiralling fuel costs and competition from budget airlines were blamed for big trading losses.

The service which operated between March and October employed 45 people, 41 of them in Belfast. SeaCat general manager Diane Pool said: “It is a sad day.”

Last year the service carried 302,656 passengers and 72,876 vehicles.

The future of the service had been under threat for sometime despite a growth in tourism to Northern Ireland. SeaCat pioneered fast ferry travel on the Irish sea in 1992.

Ms Poole said trading losses had become unacceptable and the company had no option but to close the operation. She added: “Since that time the travel industry has undergone immense change.”