Paul Davies MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have reaffirmed the strategic significance of the Southern Corridor Irish Sea routes between Rosslare and the ports of Pembroke Dock and Fishguard, following the cancellation of several crossings.

At a time when Terminal 5 at Holyhead Port remains closed, and major disruption was seen last year following the closure of Holyhead due to berthing damage, the local Senedd Members have emphasised that the Southern Corridor now plays an even more critical role in ensuring reliable connectivity for West Wales, Ireland, and the UK.

They stress that the Southern Corridor underpins the economic resilience of Pembrokeshire and the surrounding region, supporting local employers, safeguarding essential supply chains, and sustaining the flow of goods and services that many communities depend upon daily. Any interruption to these routes therefore demands swift and transparent communication from operators.

Paul Davies MS said: “These crossings play a key role… Any disruption can cause challenges for businesses and supply chains, and so it’s vital that operators keep people informed as possible and work to maintain reliable services.

“Moving forward, we must look at how we can build long-term resilience into these routes and that means strengthening the engagement between operators, government and local stakeholders in order to protect and support these vital routes for the future.”

Samuel Kurtz MS added: “These routes are not simply transport links; they are economic lifelines, and operators must provide assurances that their contingency planning is strong enough to prevent disruption at such a critical trading period. The failure to move key freight ahead of Christmas is especially concerning, given how heavily local supply chains rely on timely deliveries…

“When sailings are cancelled at short notice, the pressure on our local haulage firms intensifies significantly, forcing them to absorb delays, reroute vehicles, and manage rising costs.”