ELUNED MORGAN CONCERN AT FERRY CANCELLATIONS
The impact of Brexit has been blamed for the cancellation of a significant number of ferry sailings between Pembrokeshire and Ireland this weekend.
The largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, Stena Line, has confirmed that 12 sailings in total, eight between Fishguard Harbour and Rosslare Europort will be cancelled between today and Tuesday next week.
The company has blamed increased red tape for the fall off in demand as haulage firms seek to avoid delays and costs by using new direct ferry services between Ireland and continental Europe.
Carrying freight across the Irish Sea has sustained commercial operations especially outside of key holiday periods. A complete travel ban on all non-essential journeys into Ireland is due to relax on Saturday, but anyone travelling to Ireland for a specific reason will need to test negative for Covid or face heavy financial penalties.
Labour MS, Eluned Morgan met with local management of Stena Line and Irish Ferries before Christmas, commenting on this development, Eluned said:
“January is quieter time for ferry services but as we know, commercial freight sustains these important links all year round. This is the first time that an operator like Stena has admitted the very real impacts of Brexit has forced them to cut services.
“Huge quantities of trade is now bypassing Fishguard and Pembroke because it is easier to meet deadlines by avoiding Britain altogether. The Tories hailed Brexit as a way of cutting red tape, instead it has created barriers, more paperwork and economic uncertainty.
“Regardless of the views of some Brexiteers, our ports are important gateways to Europe. For Wales, Pembrokeshire must remain a gateway to Europe for trade, tourism and all of the jobs linked to these ports.”
Jackie Jones, Labour MS Candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire, who was also one of the last Members of the European Parliament said: “This is a very disappointing announcement and one that does not need to be repeated. Daily ferry services have operated between Fishguard and Rosslare for the last 115 years, through pandemics, wars and great economic uncertainty. We must not allow Brexit to take this important transport link which has put Fishguard on the map to disappear.”
The original story published by the Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/largest-irish-sea-ferry-operator-cuts-sailings-due-to-supply-chain-problems-1.4452560
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