Larne Port future in doubt

13/01/2014

The long-term viability of the facility has been questioned after the number of cars and commercial vehicles going through the port dropped substantially since 2010.

Passenger numbers are down by more than 220,000 in the last three years and fell by 30,000 in the past twelve months alone. The number of vehicles using the port has halved – down to just 190,000 in 2013.

If numbers continue to fall at the same rate, then the port would soon become commercially unviable. This would represent a massive blow as Larne Port is the main ferry terminal for the movement of livestock between Northern Ireland and mainland UK, with a dedicated facility for holding livestock before transportation.

Sinn Fein’s Oliver McMullan says: “As one of the major employers n the East Antrim area, it is important that we secure the future of the port by making it more competitive and more accessible.”