Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present weight restriction on the MV Portaferry at Strangford Lough ferry crossing; what are the implications for transport of commercial goods; and if he will make a statement on the future development of the Strangford Lough ferry.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe MV Portaferry, which is operating the Strangford Lough ferry service while the main vessel is undergoing its annual overhaul, is restricted to carrying a total weight of 22 tonnes with no vehicle exceeding a gross 143W vehicle weight of 8 tonnes. The vehicle weight restriction, which is being applied for safety reasons, means that operators and drivers of heavy commercial vehicles have to make alternative travel arrangements for a period.
The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland plans to continue to run as reliable a ferry service as is reasonably possible.