A KEY court hearing will be held today to decide the future of the ferry service connecting Swansea to Cork.

Crossings stopped between Wales and Ireland in October last year and the West Cork Tourism Co-operative Society, which owns ferry operator Fastnet Line, entered into a form of bankruptcy protection known as examinership shortly afterwards.

The West Cork Tourism Co-operative Society now has to secure the commitment of 1.65 million euros by the end of this month in order to emerge from examinership and hit its target of resuming services on Saturday, March 31.

A court hearing will take place today to secure permission to carry out the examinership process to its full term and allow the society the opportunity to secure the required funding.

John Williams, vice-chairman of the West Cork Tourism Co-Operative and chair-elect of Fastnet Line, confirmed bookings are already being taken for crossings this year and said the society remains positive about securing the money needed to carry on.

Mr Williams said: "Today's hearing will decide whether the judge is prepared to let the examinership go to the full term to the end of January.

"All indications are at the moment that the judge will give us the full term."

The society is still 960,000 euros short of its target but Mr Williams said he remains positive the funding can be found.

The service has carried around 153,000 passengers since it was launched in March 2010, which was below expectations.

Ferry bosses put this down to a lack of marketing and intend to run the service for six months rather than 12 if it returns in March.

Mr Williams said: "We are still positive about reaching our target.

"There is a lot going on on both sides of the Irish sea.

"The pressure on political entities to find some way to assist us is there."

The society recently offered interested firms the chance to sponsor the Swansea to Cork ferry with their logo across the entire boat as an innovative and mutually- beneficial avenue to raise funds for the service.

Mr Williams said several letters have been sent to Welsh Government Business Minister Edwina Hart seeking support.

He added: "A letter was sent yesterday signed by a number of MPs and AMs.

"Edwina Hart has three reasons to support us.

"She is the minister responsible for tourism, she is the minister responsible for business and she represents Gower.

"It is on her doorstep really.

"Our message to shareholders is we are still positive about getting the funding so we can relaunch the service in March.

"We will be sending a letter out to shareholders in the next two to three days."