Ferry operator P&O Ferries has decided to close its loss-making LarneTroon route with immediate effect.

“P&O Ferries has proudly operated this additional seasonal route since 2003, but the stark reality is that the company is continuing to make losses, and sadly the income from ticket sales is not sufficient to cover the annual vessel and port operating costs,” the company said.

In a final attempt to make the route economic the company reduced the service in the off-peak months last year, whilst maintaining the full service in the peak months of July and August. However, the measure failed to restore the route to profit.

“Since the last sailing at the end of September, P&O Ferries has continued to negotiate with a number of suppliers and other organisations, including the search for a lower cost chartered fast-craft to be able to continue, but we have been unable to develop a solution for the company,” the ferry operator adds.

P&O Ferries stressed that the closure would not result in any redundancies, adding that all permanent staff are found alternative roles within the company.

The company has also confirmed it will continue to operate its full Larne-Cairnryan route services throughout 2016 and into the future, with up to seven sailings each way every day of the year.

In addition, the ferry operator said that its purpose-built European Highlander and European Causeway vessels will also be undergoing £500,000 (USD 720,400) of on-board improvements over the next 18 months.