To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) to detail the number of (a) hours; (b) days; and (c) crossing sailings both ferries serving the Strangford ferry crossing have been out of operation at the same time, from 1 April 2020 to 31 October 2020; and (ii) to provide a copy of the service charter confirming the operating targets for provision of ferry services in Strangford Lough for 2020/21.

During the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 October 2020, both ferries serving the Strangford Lough Ferry Service crossing were out of operation at the same time for a total of:

59.5 hours out of a total of 2418 planned hours (primarily due to crew unavailability related to COVID-19):

3.8 days out of a total of 214 planned days (In total 8 days, consisting of 1 full day and a number of partial days, were disrupted due to crew unavailability related to COVID-19): and

246 times out of a total of 9556 planned sailings (primarily due to crew unavailability related to COVID-19).

The operating targets set out in the Passenger Charter are to provide a safe, reliable, clean and effective service, which meets the following standards:

vehicle ferry available for 97 per cent of planned crossings;

shelters, cabins and decks are to be kept clean and tidy;

complaints thoroughly and quickly addressed; and

loading and disembarkation supervised by crew for maximum customer safety.

During the period between 1 April 2020 and 31 October 2020, the ferry has been available for 97.4% of planned sailings.