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Stena Commit to Cairnryan

MORE than 500 Lochryan jobs have been safeguarded after Stena Line committed themselves to a brand-new base just north of Cairnryan on Friday.

The ferry company hope to be operating from the multi-million pound Port at Old House Point in under three years. And their investment has been matched by the Scottish Executive who have confirmed that a £14 million road upgrade programme will commence on the A77 trunk road shortly.

The double-boost for the area has met with delight from Stena employees, local councillors and politicians alike who had feared the company would leave Lochryan altogether.

Stena Line management made the journey from Sweden to Stranraer on Friday to mark the historic day in which they revealed the plan behind their £70 million investment.

The latest Port facilities and a new terminal at Old House Point will be mirrored by a similar facility to be built further down Belfast Lough from their existing Irish terminal.

That will cut 30 minutes off each crossing of the company's flagship vessel HSS Stena Voyager, thus allowing an extra crossing each day. And that, say bosses, will reinforce Stena's position as the market leader on Irish Sea crossings.