Cork fears economic woes over possible ferry docking
Ferry Online Travel News 05/01/2012
Fastnet Line have estimated economic losses of €30 million (£25 million) if the Cork to Swansea ferry line is scrapped.
The company, which is under the ownership of the West Cork Tourism Co-Operative Society Limited, also said that the loss of the service would mean 60,000 fewer tourists in the Munster region every year, putting hundreds of hospitality workers at risk for redundancies.
The MV Julia remains still since it was docked at the Port of Cork in November as its operator underwent examinership. Fastnet Line needs a total of €1.65 million to get the route back online; it has thus far been able to raise €687,000 from shareholders, private donors, investors and local business owners but still needs to come up with nearly €1 million.
West Cork Tourism Co-Operative chairman Noel Murphy said that as the Kerry and Cork regions continue to struggle with attracting visitors that the cancellation of the ferry line could magnify the problem. He added that 60,000 fewer tourists was a “very conservative” figure, noting the average visitor spends about €500 in the area.
Murphy, whose group is scrambling to bring the ferry back online ahead of the 2012 Olympics, said that additional funding was “urgent”, noting that the ferry was sole direct link between motorways in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
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