Almost 100 jobs are to be shed on the Stena Line Belfast to Stranraer route as part of a restructuring programme designed to increase the company’s competitive advantage on the crossing.

The company is to shed 92 jobs - representing one-sixth of the workforce - following the announcement that the Stena Galloway ferry is to be withdrawn in February of next year. The move means that Stena will have just two vessels in service in the Irish Sea – the Stena Caledonia and the HSS.

Paul Grant, head of Stena’s Northern Ireland operations commented: “We’re still not reaping the longer-term benefits of peace and a stable tourism market, so we have reluctantly had to act to ensure we maintain our competitive position by announcing the redundancies, which we hope can be achieved voluntarily.

“Stena is fully committed to its Northern Ireland and Scotland services, in which we have invested £90 million during the last five years,” he added.

In addition, a feasibility study is underway which will examine the benefits of a possible relocation of Stena terminals in both Belfast and Stranraer, possibly reducing crossing times to allow six daily return trips instead of the current five.

However, the company has confirmed that plans to move operations to Larne are no longer under consideration. (CL)