Cork County Council has agreed to give the Cork-Swansea ferry service a boost of €200,000 in a bid to save the operating company, which is in examinership.
County mayor Tim Lombard told a specially convened council meeting yesterday that he was hopeful the funding would prove to be a “catalyst” to save the Fastnet Line-operated service.
Chief executive of the company Padraig O’Kane said the service was due to undergo an overhaul to maximise its chances of survival. Planned changes included a reduction in sailings, with 142 ferry crossings planned for 2012, down from 280 last year. Capacity on board the ship would also be reduced from 1,504 to 950 to reduce staffing levels.