16 April 2009

Hopes rise for revival of Swansea-Cork ferry service

A ferry service between Swansea and Cork could be revived this summer after an absence of almost three years.

A 38-year old vessel, which had been operating between Helsinki and St Petersburg until last October, has been earmarked to reinstate the link between Wales and Ireland.

West Cork Tourism has led a consortium to raise the money to buy the ship, the 1,400-passenger Julia, from a Finnish bank for €7.8 million following a deal with creditors of Stella Naves Russia line, the ship's owners.

Chairman of West Cork Tourism Conor Buckley said:"We are currently preparing the necessary working capital.

"We are going to be launching in a difficult economic environment, but there is huge goodwill both here and in Britain for it."

If successful the Swansea-Cork ferry connection could be re-established by June using the 340-cabin ferry in time for the peak summer travel period.

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