Hopes that suspended ferry service will return in spring
THE ferry service between Llansteffan and Ferryside will not run again this year due to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions - but bosses promise it will return in spring 2021.
Since lockdown came into force in March, directors of the Carmarthen Bay Ferries have halted all services of the Glanferry across the River Towy at the mouth of its estuary, meaning its income has dried up.
A new fundraising group, Friends of Glansteffan Ferry, was established last month to help the service survive.
However, directors of Carmarthen Bay Ferries have now decided not to restart services this season.
In a statement, directors Les Jones, Martin Smith, Celia Strange and Kenton Morgan said: “The decision was difficult and we know this will disappoint many of our supporters.
“After an austere Covid19 lockdown, there is a need for relaxing and interesting open-air activities in the UK.
“Ferry crossings and boat trips on the River Towy have the potential to provide this for our communities and the increasing numbers of people who are visiting the Welsh coast.”
Uncertainty over the virus ultimately led to plans of restarting the ferry service this summer being scrapped.
The directors added: “Our unique amphibious boat was due to operate from April until the end of September. The service was suspended indefinitely because of Covid
19.
“The recent relaxation of lockdown provided an opportunity for the service to recommence for two months.
“In deciding not to do this, we reviewed all aspects of the service; tides, crew availability, shore support, social distancing and finances.
“The shore support offered by the recently constituted Friends of Glansteffan Ferry would have allowed us to ensure passengers were able to board and leave the boat wearing life jackets, face coverings and observing social distancing.
“Plans were made to reconfigure Glansteffan’s seating to allow four individual passengers or two individuals and two groups of three or four to travel.
“‘Bubble’ groups of up to 10 could still be carried. Testing of the crew for antibody and regular checking for infection were also considered.”
Reluctantly, the directors decided that the risks to the crew, passengers, boat and financial risks to the company were too great to justify operating for such a short time in a period of uncertainty around second waves and local outbreaks of the virus.
The ferry will now remain at its original home – Robust Boatbuilders in Solva, Pembrokeshire - until next season.
This will give the company time to develop effective operating procedures for 2021.
All ferry passes, tickets and vouchers will remain valid for the 2021 season.