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22/10/2013
New Ferries For Strangford And Rathlin
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has secured £2m in funding to allow a project for two new ferries to operate in Northern Ireland.
One will operate on the Ballycastle/Rathlin Island route, and the other will be on the Strangford/Portaferry route.
The funding is part of the Executive's 2014/15 Capital Reallocation Exercise which was unveiled in the Assembly on Monday.
The DRD is now said to be developing an initial timetable for the project, with the hope of having the ferries in operation by Spring 2016.
Minister Kennedy said: "The new ferries will ultimately replace two of the existing ferries. On the Ballycastle/Rathlin route the MV Canna is 37 years old and on the Strangford/Portaferry route, the MV Strangford is 44 years old.
"Both ferries will be approaching the end of their economic operational life over the next few years."
He added: "With the cost of maintenance increasing for both vessels it is more cost effective to replace them with modern and more efficient vessels."
Initial estimates for the total investment cost is £3m for the Ballycastle/Rathlin route, and £5.5m for the Portaferry/Strangford route.
Currently, the Rathlin Island ferry service uses two ferries - a vehicle ferry which is supplemented by a passenger-only vessel provided by the ferry operator. The Department also operates a vehicle ferry service in Strangford Lough with two vehicle ferries and a back-up passenger ferry.
(JP/CD)
One will operate on the Ballycastle/Rathlin Island route, and the other will be on the Strangford/Portaferry route.
The funding is part of the Executive's 2014/15 Capital Reallocation Exercise which was unveiled in the Assembly on Monday.
The DRD is now said to be developing an initial timetable for the project, with the hope of having the ferries in operation by Spring 2016.
Minister Kennedy said: "The new ferries will ultimately replace two of the existing ferries. On the Ballycastle/Rathlin route the MV Canna is 37 years old and on the Strangford/Portaferry route, the MV Strangford is 44 years old.
"Both ferries will be approaching the end of their economic operational life over the next few years."
He added: "With the cost of maintenance increasing for both vessels it is more cost effective to replace them with modern and more efficient vessels."
Initial estimates for the total investment cost is £3m for the Ballycastle/Rathlin route, and £5.5m for the Portaferry/Strangford route.
Currently, the Rathlin Island ferry service uses two ferries - a vehicle ferry which is supplemented by a passenger-only vessel provided by the ferry operator. The Department also operates a vehicle ferry service in Strangford Lough with two vehicle ferries and a back-up passenger ferry.
(JP/CD)
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