Irish ferry operators on routes to and from Britain are on a heightened security alert following warnings of possible terror attacks on British ports.
The ferry companies in the State have asked their staff in ports to be extra-vigilant. However, they stressed yesterday that they had traditionally maintained a high level of security, and there had been no threats against any of the ferry lines.
The warnings in Britain were quickly followed yesterday by moves to allay fears, with UK security sources saying that the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, was speaking generally about vigilance and had not issued a formal security alert.
British officials said there was no need for people to change their travel plans. They said they were responding to general warnings, rather than specific information.
A spokesman for Irish Ferries said that traditionally there had always been very tight security on the ferries between Ireland and Britain.
"In the light of the warnings in Britain, an instruction has gone out to all our port operatives to be extra vigilant," the spokesman said.
The warnings seemed to centre on freight customers, but their customers were leading haulage clients and all were known to the company.
"I would say that all port authorities are exercising extra vigilance. People who want to travel can be comforted by all of that. We can assure customers that our freight department will be part of that vigilance, not only in the ports but also from the people who take bookings," he said.
A Stena Line spokesman said he thought the reports about British ports being the target of possible attacks were now being moderated.
"We have had a very high level of security since September 11th and we are ever vigilant. We are on a higher level of alert even more so now," he said.
There certainly had been no specific threat against Stena Line or advice from the Government arising out of this. "Naturally, we take any security alerts seriously," the spokesman said.
Yesterday Swansea Cork Ferries said: "Swansea Cork Ferries,together with the other cross-channel operators, fully supports the vigilant measures at UK ports. We all regard the safety of our passengers as a priority and will take whatever steps necessary to ensure their safe passage.
"Working with the authorities, we have increased our own security measures, details of which we cannot elaborate on for obvious reasons. I would stress that we have received no threats specific to Swansea Cork Ferries."
In Northern Ireland a spokesman for Sea Containers, which runs the Sea Cat service from Troon in Scotland to Belfast, said the Department of Transport had suggested they increase the number of checks on freight operations.