Stena Line has confirmed it is to scrap its seasonal passenger ferry service from Dun Laoghaire in Ireland to Holyhead which has run for 180 years.
The ferry company said it will instead focus on expanding its existing ferry service at Dublin Port.
"With two services operating approximately 10 miles apart we needed to make a decision in relation to what operation best serves the needs of our customers now and in the years ahead, and that operation is Dublin Port," said Ian Davies, Stena Line’s route manager for Irish Sea South.
Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company said it was now looking for another ferry company to operate on the route and claimed it has already received a number of informal approaches.
The Stena Line service has been running between Dun Laghoaire and Holyhead since 1835.
In 1993 a small fast craft was introduced to the route and in 1995 it was replaced by the large fast craft, the HSS Stena Explorer.
At its peak in 1998, the service carried over 1.7 million passengers a year.
But following the withdrawal of duty free, passenger numbers fell and the service was reduced to a seasonal operation five years ago.
Last year less than 200,000 passengers travelled through Dun Laoghaire Harbour, making the route unsustainable.
"While we have enjoyed a very professional working relationship with Dun Laoghaire Harbour over many years, the economic realities of the current situation in relation to our business levels have left us with no choice but to close the service," added Davies.
"Dublin continues to grow in importance, not only as the core freight port for Ireland but also as the key tourism gateway into Ireland."
