ANOTHER attempt is being made to reinstate the Ballycastle-Campbeltown ferry.
The ferry link was closed down in 1999 after being run by Sea Containers for three years and incurring "unstainable losses."
Its closure brought disappointment to the tourism industries on both sides of the North Channel and attempts have been made to secure a new operator
for the route.
So far no takers in the form of a new operator have come forward for the route despite a £1 million subsidy being offered by the Scottish Executive
and the Northern Ireland Administration. Scottish Transport Minister Tavish Scott has admitted that the Scottish Executive was disappointed there had been no interest from possible ferry operators.
"The Executive is aware of the strong support for the reinstatement of the service in both Kintyre and Antrim and of the local disappointement at the
outcome of the tendering process.
"The Executive has therefore agreed with the Northern Ireland Adminstration that one final effort should be made to identify any potential ferry
operator interested in submitting a tender to provide the service under a negotiated procedure."
He added: "These investigations will require time to pursue and it is not possible to place a precise time scale on them in advance, but every effort
will be made to establish the position as soon as possible."