P&O scraps Larne-Troon ferry but says jobs are safe

DUP MLA Alastair Ross has said that it is “regrettable” the P&O Larne-Troon service is to stop, but welcomed an ongoing commitment to the Cairnryan route.

The company said it had to face the “stark reality” that the service – which has been operating between Northern Ireland and Scotland since 2003 – was making “significant losses”.

The company insisted there would be no job losses as a result of the decision and said it would continue to operate its Larne to Cairnryan service.

It said the decision to end the Troon service, which did not operate in the winter months, came after a “comprehensive review”.

“P&O Ferries has proudly operated this additional seasonal route since 2003, but the stark reality is that the company is continuing to make significant losses, and sadly the income from ticket sales is not sufficient to cover the annual vessel and port operating costs,” said a company statement.

“In a final attempt to make the route economic the company reduced the service in the off-peak months last year, whilst maintaining the full service in the peak months of July and August. Whilst this measure did significantly reduce the operating costs, the route remained loss-making.

“Since the last sailing at the end of September, P&O Ferries has continued to negotiate with a number of suppliers and other organisations, including the search for a lower cost chartered fast-craft to be able to continue, but we have been unable to develop a solution for the company.

“There will be no redundancies, with all permanent staff being found alternative roles within the company.”

Mr Ross said: “With major investment in upgrading the A8 Belfast-Larne road completed recently tourist and freight routes into Larne are becoming more attractive again, and I would hope that the port can grow its business in the years ahead.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan said the announcement “will come as a blow to the local area as it has been a fixture of life in the area for many years”.

He said it would “understandably create fears for the employees of the firm and their families”, and while management have assured him there will be no redundancies “there is still a great deal of anxiety”.

He added that the decision “has wider repercussions for the local area” and the “withdrawal of this service will no doubt limit access to the Causeway Coast and Glens at a time when we are trying to open up the area with the A8”.