A ferry service connecting Kent to Essex across the River Thames is set to be axed.

The future of the Gravesend to Tilbury link, which was started in 2017, was put under the spotlight at the beginning of the year and will finish at the end of March.

The service, which ran five days a week between 5.40am and 7pm, carrying more than 100,000 passenger journeys a year is now set to be scrapped this month.

A spokesman for Jetstream Tours said: “Jetstream Tours has operated the Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry on behalf of Kent County Council since 2017 and are proud to have been able to provide these services to Kent and Thurrock for the past seven years.

“Following a second extension to our existing contract, in November 2023, we became aware of funding issues which started through the withdrawal of funding from Thurrock Council. We have maintained positive talks solely with Kent County Council throughout this period whilst a consultation period was entered.

“Regrettably due to ongoing concerns and uncertainties presented around future funding and an abandoned procurement process by Kent County council for longer-term prospects, Jetstream Tours has been unable to enter into negotiations with the council.

“Further short-term extensions to our existing contract sadly are not tenable for our business and staff. We feel it ultimately would lead to further protracted job insecurities and have an adverse effect on our ability to adequately employ and ensure continuity of a regular and reliable ferry service.

“We regret that Jetstream Tours will not be continuing our services beyond our contracted period of the 31st March 2024. We understand that the council have been seeking an alternative operator to continue the service.

“Jetstream Tours and our staff would like to thank ferry users for their ongoing support in this troubling time and we hope that a suitable funding solution can be found to sustain a regular and reliable ferry going forward.”

Gravesham council strongly objected to the potential loss when a public consultation finished in January, with leader Cllr John Burder (Lab) saying: “Economically the ferry has enabled port workers and seafarers to live in Gravesend and work in Tilbury Docks.

“Socially it linked the two communities of Tilbury and Gravesend together with a common focus on the River Thames.

“More than 107,000 trips are made each year with revenue covering more than 50% of the costs.

“Importantly it provides a vital service for school children from Tilbury attending schools in Gravesend, commuting to and from the communities and jobs on both sides of the Thames, tourism, and access to social, leisure and retail facilities in Gravesend from Tilbury.”

The council says the alternative route on public transport – if the ferry service was axed – would involve using three different buses, one of which is hourly.

The journey would take at least one hour and 50 minutes in comparison to the five minutes on the ferry. It would also cost more.

If people were to drive, it would take around 30 minutes.

Thurrock Council leader Andrew Jeffries added: “We are disappointed to learn that the Tilbury Ferry may have to halt its service in the short term.

“A great deal of work has taken place and funding had been secured to maintain the service in the short term while work took place to create a sustainable long-term future for the ferry crossing.

“However, despite this setback we will continue to work to secure a long term future for the ferry that does not rely on local council tax payers money being used to provide financial support.”

The service is run by Jetstream Tours, who have been approached for comment.