Rathlin Island Ferry firm has folded putting the islanders' 'lifeline' ashore at risk.
The Rathlin Island Ferry company has folded leaving islanders without a “lifeline” ashore after today.
Workers on the service between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island have been striking over a cost of living pay increase, after three years of wage freezes.
Read more: Watch: Rathlin Islanders on how the special place stole their hearts
Unite the union, which has been supporting the action, said on Tuesday the ferry’s private operator told the Department for Infrastructure it could enter liquidation by the end of January.
But a spokesperson for the Rathlin Island Development Association says the business collapsed today [wed].
Rathlin community development worker David Quinney Mee said: “It’s an extremely regrettable situation.
“The service is subsidised by DfI and we as the RDA have been in as close contact as we can with all parties. We have expressed concern regularly to DfI of how the service is not just transport - it is obviously considerably more than a lifeline to Northern Ireland’s only offshore inhabited island.
“Losing that service, unless something is put in place very quickly, will have an immense impact and set the island back considerably.
“We understand DfI have heard of all that and will be working on contingency plans. We don’t know what those plans are and we don’t know when they will come into effect.
“Today the boats are running but the one that belongs to the company will stop at lunchtime and remain in Ballycastle. The other one, the passenger vehicle ferry, belongs to DfI, so that will do its last run today and after that we are not quite sure.”
David said economics played a “significant” part but says it’s more complicated than that.
He added: “It is also managed by agreements, decisions and policies and negotiation and if that breaks down then the money falls to pieces.
“The service is an economically viable service as long as it's subsidised so that shouldn’t be the issue.
“Negotiations have been going on for a long time... and they haven’t reached the conclusion we all would have liked.”
He also told us islanders are “concerned” about whether they will be stranded.
“All we hope is that DfI recognise contingency plans do need to be effective and effective very quickly.”
RSPB NI operates on Rathlin Island and relies on the ferry service as well.
Director of RSPB NI Joanne Sherwood said: “Our main concern today is for the staff at Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd who are now facing uncertainty and losing their jobs. It’s a very worrying time for the Rathlin community and we support all efforts to resolve this difficult situation.
”The ferry service is vital for the island community and for all who live and work on the island or rely on it to commute to Ballycastle and beyond. A solution must be found quickly to restore the transport link between Ballycastle and Rathlin.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said: “Following several weeks of engagement between the Department and Rathlin Island Ferry Limited in relation to matters arising from the contract between them, including the financial position of the ferry company, the Department received notification today from the company that it is to cease trading with immediate effect.
“The Department recognises the importance of the ferry service for the local community and has been taking forward work on potential contingency arrangements with the expectation that these could be implemented urgently, and which include seeking to protect the interests of the staff as far as possible.
“It is our plan to provide a further update on these arrangements as soon as possible.”
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