Stena Line is to cancel its three-day Rosslare-Cherbourg service, the company announced on Monday.
The last sailing will depart Cherbourg on September 29th, arriving in Rosslare on September 30th. The ferry operator said the decision was made following a strategic route review.
“These plans have been developed after an extensive review with the intention of strengthening the company’s investment in the Irish Sea, whilst delivering the most efficient use of the company’s resources,” it said.
Stena Line trade director Johan Edelman said the company would work with staff to find “redeployment opportunities” as a “first option”.
The group declined to disclose how many jobs are at risk but said it will be “consulting directly with any impacted employees as part of our consultation process”.
“We’ve already met with our colleagues and over this period of consultation we will be working with any individual affected to consider all options, including redeployment opportunities,” said Mr Edelman.
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He added that the company’s customer service team will be helping customers who have booked travel after September “to keep any inconvenience to a minimum”.
Glenn Carr, director of commercial business units for Iarnród Éireann, which is the port authority for Rosslare Europort, said the decision was “regretted”.
“We have already received queries and will immediately engage with other operators to ensure our record European frequency of up to 36 sailings per week is maintained,” he said.
“We are confident we will continue to offer frequency and choice to trade and tourism customers alike.”
Stena Line said it would “continue to strengthen its Irish Sea network”.
The group recently announced investments of almost £40 million (€46.8 million) in its Liverpool and Belfast terminals, as well as the upgrading of the Fishguard port infrastructure in Wales.
A project to replace the current linkspan and jack-up barge at Fishguard has moved to the public consultation phase. A figure of £20 million was included in the application for the marine licence for the project.
A linkspan is the large infrastructure that connects the ship and shore to allow cars and lorries to load and to disembark a ferry.
“The new linkspan will allow for a better customer experience and improve operational efficiency, allowing two-way road traffic and foot passengers between ship and shore simultaneously,” the group said.
Mr Edelman said the group will also increase capacity across the Irish Sea with two new freight vessels planned for the Belfast-Heysham route and an additional freight vessel for the Dublin-Liverpool route.
Rosslare Europort said it continues to see record demand, with freight volume up 14 per cent in the year to date, and passenger numbers up 10 per cent, following a previous record last year.
Frequency of direct European sailings have increased from six weekly pre-Brexit to up to 36 weekly, with a range of operators and partner ports.
