‘Unacceptable’ Strangford ferry service cancelled at weekends

5 October 2022

A LEADING government department has been urged to ensure there are no more weekend disruptions to the Strangford Lough ferry service.

For two weekends running, the plug was pulled four hours early on evening crossings between Strangford and Portaferry due to staffing issues.

Local politicians say the last minute decision to end the service has major implications for people and businesses on both sides of the waterway and that urgent steps are required to address the current issue.

There is concern that many people do not use the ferry service’s text alert system which provides detailed sailing information, with a number arriving in Portaferry and Strangford last Sunday night to discover crossings had been suspended.

Portaferry councillor, Joe Boyle, is deeply critical of the decision to suspend the weekend service and said it is important that passengers and businesses know where they stand going forward.

“Have we reached the point when every weekend service is going to be interrupted going forward?” he asked. “Suspending the service four or five hours early impacts on passengers in particular who face an 80 minute detour which is unacceptable.

“The bottom line is that when the service is suspended, normality for many people ceases, problems arise and difficulties are created. At the weekend, hospitality businesses rely heavily on the crossing.

“I have also heard reports that some people were forced to cancel bookings in restaurants after they discovered the ferry wasn’t running on Sunday evening and there is extreme frustration about what is happening. The current situation is ridiculous.”

Cllr Boyle said the Department for Infrastructure and the minister at its helm, John O’Dowd, need to act, insisting that residents in Portaferry and indeed Strangford should not be treated as second class citizens.

While critical of the management of the ferry service, Cllr Boyle said he has nothing but praise for the staff who operate the crossing and on many occasions “go the extra mile” to accommodate passengers.

He added: “The ferry service we are currently experiencing is a less than satisfactory and Mr O'Dowd and his senior officials need to get to grips with it.

“A seven minute journey across the lough has turned into an 80 minute journey by road which increases fuel costs in the middle of a cost of living crisis. What is happening is simply outrageous. The service interruptions must stop now,” he added.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath and Cllr Gareth Sharvin have also called for the “last minute” Strangford ferry cancellations to be addressed.

Mr McGrath said the ferry crossing is an “essential public service,” providing a critical economic and social link for so many people in the wider Lecale area.

“To have the service cancelled at the last minute will have dashed the plans of many but will also create annoyance and mistrust in the area. For the people of Strangford, Portaferry and the wider Lecale area, this issue needs sorted now,” he declared.

Mr McGrath added: “I have written to Minister O’Dowd with a series of focused questions to address the staffing complement and ensure that the ferry service returns to its full operation. It is time for the Minister to show his support for this essential public service.”

Cllr Sharvin claimed the minister was not prioritising staffing on the ferry crossing, leaving businesses in Strangford and Portaferry “in the lurch”.

He added: “Colin and I have worked closely with the local community and previous infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon to ensure that this was prioritised. It is very disappointing to see that so much hard work has been undone.”

A spokeswoman for the Department for Infrastructure confirmed the ferry service was withdrawn from service on Saturday, September 24, and last Sunday evening due to crew unavailability.

She added: “These were unplanned and are an unusual occurrence. On both occasions, normal service resumed the following morning. The Department is committed to the operation of the ferry service and since January 2022 over 99% of scheduled sailings have been completed.”

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