Ferry Availability

Rathlin Island Ferry Service - about the service

The service between Rathlin and Ballycastle is operated by a private company who make use of the DfI owned ro-ro vessel, along with a passenger only vessel supplied by the company. The service is in operation every day of the year. DfI staff manage and monitor the performance of the operator. The timetable can be found at Rathlin Island ferry | nidirect.

Strangford Lough Ferry Service - about the service

The service between Strangford and Portaferry is operated and managed by DfI using 2 very similar ro-ro vessels. The vessels are used interchangeably as the need arises. The service is in operation approximately 15hrs daily every day of the year (except Christmas Day) and requires very careful maintenance, planning and support from internal engineering staff and external contractors. The timetable can be found at Strangford ferry timetable | nidirect.

Rathlin Island Ferry service availability 2025

Month	Scheduled sailings	Missed sailings	Availability % Month*	Availability % year to date*
January	269	33	100	100
February	252	46	100	100
March	318	17	100	100
April	390	8	100	100
May	505	0	100	100
June	480	14	100	100
July	550	14	97.5	99.6
August	534	40	100	99.7
September	479	18	100	99.7
October
November
December

^{* This does not include sailings which have been cancelled due to circumstances beyond DfI or Operator control i.e. weather related.}

Strangford Lough Ferry service availability 2025 - 2026

Month	Scheduled sailings	Missed sailings	Availability % Month*	Availability % year to date*
April	1846	0	100	100
May	1916	0	100	100
June	1828	0	100	100
July	1893	0	100	100
August	1884	13	99.68	99.94
September	1831	0	100	99.95
October	1886	12	100	99.95
November
December
January
February
March

^{* This does not include sailings which have been cancelled due to circumstances beyond DfI or Operator control i.e. weather related.}

Rathlin Island Ferry service availability 2024

Month	Scheduled sailings	Missed sailings	Availability % Month*	Availability % year to date*
January	213	44	100	100
February	221	32	100	100
March	242	17	100	100
April	464	82	99.6	99.9
May	486	26	100	99.92
June	460	38	98.7	99.72
July	535	28	99	99.61
August	546	23	100	99.66
September	466	42	96	99.26
October	272	32	95.5	98.88
November	261	32	100	98.98
December	247	81	98.5	98.94

^{* This does not include sailings which have been cancelled due to circumstances beyond DfI or Operator control i.e. weather related.}

Strangford Lough Ferry service availability 2024 - 2025

Month	Scheduled sailings	Missed sailings	Availability % Month*	Availability % year to date*
April	1828	0	100.00	100.00
May	1890	0	100.00	100.00
June	1820	2	99.89	99.96
July	1890	2	99.89	99.95
August	1890	0	100.00	99.96
September	1820	0	100.00	99.96
October	1476	0	100.00	99.97
November	1454	0	100.00	99.97
December	1820	0	100.00	99.98
January	1890	6	99.89	99.97
February	1704	6	99.72	99.95
March	1882	0	100.00	99.95

^{* This does not include sailings which have been cancelled due to circumstances beyond DfI or Operator control i.e. weather related.}