Concern grows over future of Belfast-Troon ferry

The loss of the Belfast to Troon ferry service would impact heavily on Northern Ireland’s tourist industry, East Londonderry UUP Assembly member Norman Hillis has warned.

Mr Hillis was responding to news that the SeaCat ferry service between Belfast and Troon in Scotland may be axed following "unacceptable" losses over the past year.

Management blamed "competition from budget airlines and spiralling fuel costs" for growing losses on the route.

Mr Hillis, who is vice chairman of the Causeway Coast and Glens Ltd tourism group, said: “If the operation was to go it would be extremely detrimental to our hopes of expanding tourism here.

“The Northern Ireland-Scotland ferry routes have played a major role in providing a vital link between the two countries down the years.”

Mr Hillis said reducing competition on the route to Scotland would not be good for travellers and also pointed out that the Seacat service was important to hundreds of student travellers who attend universities on mainland Britain.

The Federation of Small Businesses has also expressed concern at the threat to the service saying it could be detrimental to trade with Scotland and reduce the number of tourists visiting Northern Ireland.

Wilfred Mitchell FSB Policy Chairman said: “If the service is being cancelled, then it is clearly bad news for the business community in Northern Ireland who use this route for trade and business with Scotland.

“Given that over 302,000 people used the service in the last year we have also concerns that any cancellation will have a negative impact on the number of tourists visiting Northern Ireland at this time.”

The service, which has already been cut back to an eight months of the year operation between March and October, employs 41 people in Belfast and four in Troon.

It is understood that unless a way forward can be found sailings are unlikely to commence again in March.

(MB/SP)