The Ulster Unionist Party’s East Antrim MLA John Stewart has urged the Economy Minister to get directly involved following the suspension of ferry services to and from Larne and elsewhere by P&O ferries.

John Stewart MLA said:

“With the Port of Larne being owned by P&O through its Dubai-based parent company, and with the only ferry services currently operating from Larne being P&O Ferries, we are in a very uncertain and precarious situation indeed.

“There are worrying rumours of all on-board staff being made redundant and replaced with agency staff and P&O need to make a clear public statement as a matter of urgency.  The staff need to be told what is going on and whether P&O have any long or short term commitment to Larne.

“There has been an obvious decline in services and routes at the port of Larne for many years, but the short crossing to Cairnyran has always been busy and is a strategically important freight link to Scotland and the rest of the UK.

“Given this, the Economy Minister needs to get directly involved right now.”