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Stranraer harbour bids farewell to ferries | Stranraer harbour bids farewell to ferries |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Stena Line is moving its operations up the coast to a new deep water port just north of Cairnryan. | Stena Line is moving its operations up the coast to a new deep water port just north of Cairnryan. |
The company's Irish Sea route director Paul Grant said the development secured a future in Loch Ryan that it might not have had without the move. | The company's Irish Sea route director Paul Grant said the development secured a future in Loch Ryan that it might not have had without the move. |
However, local historian Jack Hunter said it was a major milestone which would leave a void in the town. | However, local historian Jack Hunter said it was a major milestone which would leave a void in the town. |
The development took more than a decade to plan and deliver and has been project-managed by Stena's Alan Gordon. | The development took more than a decade to plan and deliver and has been project-managed by Stena's Alan Gordon. |
It is designed to cut costs and reduce crossing times to Northern Ireland. | It is designed to cut costs and reduce crossing times to Northern Ireland. |
"It represents £200m worth of investment by Stena Line in Loch Ryan port and two new ships," said Mr Gordon. | "It represents £200m worth of investment by Stena Line in Loch Ryan port and two new ships," said Mr Gordon. |
"It shows that there is a future here for Stena Line - it means that Stranraer will benefit because the majority of people that work on the ferries live in Stranraer." | "It shows that there is a future here for Stena Line - it means that Stranraer will benefit because the majority of people that work on the ferries live in Stranraer." |
The company proposed relocation out of Stranraer several years ago and subsequently entered into talks with rivals P&O about sharing expanded facilities in Cairnryan. | The company proposed relocation out of Stranraer several years ago and subsequently entered into talks with rivals P&O about sharing expanded facilities in Cairnryan. |
However, in 2007 those plans were dropped due to the prohibitive costs involved. | However, in 2007 those plans were dropped due to the prohibitive costs involved. |
Two years later it reverted to its original plans and decided to go it alone with the move. | Two years later it reverted to its original plans and decided to go it alone with the move. |
Mr Gordon admitted there had been a "few false dawns" along the way but added that he believed it was the "right thing to do". | Mr Gordon admitted there had been a "few false dawns" along the way but added that he believed it was the "right thing to do". |
Mr Grant said it was the "right facility in the right location" and now had the "right ships" to take the business forward for decades to come. | Mr Grant said it was the "right facility in the right location" and now had the "right ships" to take the business forward for decades to come. |
'Psychological significance' | 'Psychological significance' |
"The route has been losing money and that is the harsh reality of it," he said. | "The route has been losing money and that is the harsh reality of it," he said. |
"We couldn't sustain the route, potentially. | "We couldn't sustain the route, potentially. |
"We have had to make this investment to make this route profitable and give us all a future and keep the jobs and so forth in this area because that is what's important." | "We have had to make this investment to make this route profitable and give us all a future and keep the jobs and so forth in this area because that is what's important." |
Mr Hunter said the end of the ferries was a moment of "psychological significance". | Mr Hunter said the end of the ferries was a moment of "psychological significance". |
"This is a link that has been in operation for more than 150 years," he said. | "This is a link that has been in operation for more than 150 years," he said. |
"People are used to seeing the ferries coming and going - it gives them a feeling they are connected to other places. | "People are used to seeing the ferries coming and going - it gives them a feeling they are connected to other places. |
"With no boats coming in I think it will give a feeling of isolation, a feeling of being at the end of the line." | "With no boats coming in I think it will give a feeling of isolation, a feeling of being at the end of the line." |
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