A FERRY operator is looking to cut up to 26 onshore jobs in Fishguard and Holyhead.

Over the last few of years, Stena Line’s European ferry business has been operating at a financial loss and the company has carried out a review to identify efficiencies and help reduce costs.

Following a restructuring of its management and administrative teams, the company has announced proposals to reorganise its operational shore-based staff across the Irish Sea.

It has entered into discussions with staff and union representatives. In Holyhead, approximately 21 positions and in Fishguard approximately five positions are expected to be at a risk of redundancy.

A Stena Line spokesman said: “Our ferry operations have been losing money for a number of years which is clearly not a sustainable position. Following a comprehensive review of our European operations, we have identified a number of areas in which we need to become more efficient and reduce our costs.

“This decision is a necessary one for the long term future of Stena Line and we do not expect service levels to be impacted by the proposed changes,” said the Stena Line spokesperson.

Stena Line runs two ferries between Holyhead and Dublin - the Stena Adventurer and Stena Nordic, while the Fishguard-Rosslare route is served by the Stena Europe ferry.