AQW 7688/16-21 Written question to the Minister for Infrastructure
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail how many times the Strangford ferry has been suspended or cancelled due to (i) weather conditions; and (ii) maintenance issues in the last five years.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 22 November 2016
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 22 November 2016
- Answer due by
- 7 December 2016
- Answered
- 6 December 201614 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Infrastructure
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The number of sailings suspended due to weather and mechanical problems since January 2011 is given in the table below. Please note that the figures given in the Weather column includes fog, storm and extreme tides conditions. The ferry sails every 15 minutes during timetabled operating hours.
| Number of suspended sailings (from approximately 22,000 sailings per year) | |||
| Year | Weather | Breakdown / Essential Maintenance | Total |
| 2011 | 63 | 63 | 126 |
| 2012 | 119 | 6 | 125 |
| 2013 | 77 | 59 | 136 |
| 2014 | 174 | 51 | 225 |
| 2015 | 115 | 43 | 158 |
| 2016 | 114 | 35 | 149 |
| (to end Nov) | |||
| Total | 662 | 257 | 919 |
I would also like to draw your attention to the availability statistics for the service over the past five years as tabulated below. These figures exclude sailings that have been suspended due to weather and extreme tides conditions.
| Year | Availability % |
| 2011/2012 | 99.71% |
| 2012/2013 | 99.99% |
| 2013/2014 | 99.66% |
| 2014/2015 | 99.53% |
| 2015/2016 (up to end November) | 99.77% |