Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson has commended key partners for their involvement in the Small Ferries Project. This is a unique study which was set up to establish the best ways to design, build and procure a replacement fleet of small ferries, to deliver lifeline ferry services for remote communities off the Scottish and Irish coastlines.

A reception was held at Dynamic Earth last night to mark completion of the project, which saw
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) collaborate with the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, to examine ideas for a common design and procurement strategy for small ferries.

With many of the vessels in service approaching or exceeding their target replacement of 25 years, the issue of maintaining and procuring new vessels and improving harbour infrastructure is key to ensuring that communities have access to lifeline ferry services which are reliable, convenient and affordable.

To ensure the continued provision of quality services, the partners have developed a Strategic Plan to help influence policy makers in the procurement of replacement ferry vessels, as part of their respective Governments’ policy commitments to supporting remote island communities.

The plan outlines a proposal for the development of a common vessel design and a cross-border collaborative approach to procuring replacement ferries, to deliver new vessels and associated improvements in harbour infrastructure. This approach would ensure cost savings in vessel procurement, allow shared expertise in researching new technologies and innovative funding mechanisms and flexibility in operation and maintenance of the fleet.

The report identifies a number of options for procurement models to look at the most cost effective and efficient approach, including joint procurement and the appointment of CMAL as the lead authority for all procurement.

Eight routes were examined during the course of the project. However, it is anticipated that the project’s findings could potentially have wider reach and benefit for other routes in the three regions.

Commenting on the completion of the project, Chairman of CMAL, Grenville Johnston said: “We are delighted to have been involved in the Small Ferries Project, working with our partners to develop a plan which we hope will help to ensure the provision of quality ferry services in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

“With demand for services set to increase over the coming years and tightened budgets, it is extremely important that we explore opportunities for collaboration, to ensure increased buying power, savings on administration and the cost of the vessels and shared learning that will help us to develop a more streamlined approach to ferry procurement and operation.”

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson added: “The partners in the Small Ferries Project are to be commended for their collaborative cross-border approach in developing this plan which aims to improve and enhance ferry services for remote and island communities in Scotland and Ireland.

“The ferries provide a lifeline service and play a key role in supporting the economic and social vitality of these communities. Developing new methods for developing and procuring vessels will be critical to ensuring that quality services are maintained in these areas and I look forward to examining the report in more detail.”

The Small Ferries Project was part financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross-border Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

 

SFP in Dublin with Pat Carey, Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in the Irish Government   SFP in Belfast with Connor Murphy, Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Executive	Guy Platten, CMAL and Stewart Stevenson, Scottish Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change at the SFP Reception in Edinburgh

 

Notes to Editors

1. A copy of the Small Ferries Project report can be found here.

2. The eight routes identified in the report are:
• Ailt an Chorráin to Leadbh Gharbh, Árainn Mhór
• An Bun Beag/Machaire Rabhartaigh to Toraigh
• Ballycastle to Rathlin
• Tarbert to Portavadie
• Gigha to Tayinloan
• Oban to Lismore
• Tobermory to Kilchoan
• Sconser to Raasay

3. The grant of £233,750 has been made by the Special EU INTERREG IVA Programme – a Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme for NI, the Border Region and Western Scotland. The overall aim of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to: ‘Support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.’

4. CMAL own property at piers and harbours at more than 24 locations throughout Scotland and is embarking on a programme of investment and improvements which will create better facilities.

5. In addition to its pier and harbour facilities, CMAL owns 31 ferries which are leased to CalMac Ferries Ltd and Cowal Ferries Ltd.

6. CMAL is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.

7. For more information about CMAL visit: www.cmassets.co.uk

Media contacts:
Elise Clayton
Golley Slater
Tel: 0131 272 2733 / elise.clayton @golleyslater.co.uk

1st October 2010

The team behind the Small Ferries Project is to hold a one-day conference  in Brussels to raise awareness of the project, which aims to develop a strategic plan for a new fleet of small vessels to serve remote and island communities off the Scottish and Irish coastlines.

“Ferries for the Future: New models for financing and designing small lifeline ferries” will take place on Tuesday 29th September at Scotland House from midday. Those Interested in attending the conference can do so by registering online at http://ferriesforthefuture.eventbrite.com.

Supported by an EU grant of more than £230,000, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has partnered with the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in Ireland to examine a common design and procurement strategy for ferries which could be used by each of the partners.

Funded by the EU’s INTERREG IVA programme, at least eight routes will be examined within the programme area, which covers parts of the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland. This strategy will help reduce the overhead costs of shipbuilding and increase the potential for efficiency savings through more joined up working across the jurisdictions.
Conference topics will include:

• 'Small Ferries: Financing Solutions through Cross-border Collaboration?'
• ‘The Social and Economic Importance of Lifeline Ferry Services’
• 'Low Carbon Ferries: A Vision for the Future'

The future of Lifeline Ferry Services will also be discussed with guest speakers including Ronald Vopel , Marine Policy at the European Commission; Pelin Zhou, Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at Strathclyde University and Ko Ko Naing of Stena AB.                                                  

Notes to Editors:

• The grant of £233,750 has been made by the Special EU INTERREG IVA Programme – a Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region and Western Scotland. The overall aim of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to: ‘Support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.’
• The areas covered in this study will include :

• Alt an Chorrain to Leab Gharbn, Arainn Mhor (Burtonport to Arranmore)
• Alt an Chorrain to Toraigh (Burtonport to Tory Island)
• Ballycastle to Rathlin
• Tarbert to Portavadie
• Gigha to Tayinloan
• Oban to Lismore
• Tobermory to Kilchoan
• Sconser to Raasay

• CMAL, which owns property at piers and harbours at more than 21 locations throughout Scotland, is embarking on a programme of investment and improvements which will create better facilities and more opportunities for additional ferry services. CMAL also owns 31 ferries which are chartered to a number of operators. CMAL is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.
• The Department for Regional Development (DRD) is one of 11 Northern Ireland Departments created by the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. Its main responsibilities include regional planning, roads, public transport and certain policy and support work for water and sewerage, air and sea ports.
• The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland aims to promote and support the sustainable and inclusive development of communities both urban and rural, including Gaeltacht and island communities.

For further information contact Andrew Flockhart, CMAL, on 01475-749920 or email andrew.flockhart@cmassets.co.uk                                                                              
www.smallferriesproject.com 

23rd Sept 2009

The Small Ferries Project Travel Demand Analysis Final Report has now been published and can be viewed (PDF) by clicking HERE. If you have any feedback on this report please email Andrew.flockhart@cmassets.co.uk

The team behind the Small Ferries Project has taken to the sea with community visits to Rathlin Island and Arainn Mhor.

These trips are the first as the 18 month project aims to develop a strategic plan for a new fleet of small vessels to serve remote and island communities off the Scottish and Irish coastlines.

With an EU grant of more than £230,000, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has partnered with the Department for Regional Development in the north of Ireland and the Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs in the south to examine a common design and procurement strategy for ferries which could be used by each of the partners.

Funded by the EU’s INTERREG IVA programme, at least eight routes will be examined which cover the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland.

This strategy will help reduce overhead costs and increase the potential for efficiency savings through more joined up working across the jurisdictions.

Community involvement will be crucial to the study and the working group will visit as many typical communities as possible to identify needs, challenges and opportunities, as well as speak to vessel designers and operators.

The first stage of the project is now underway which involves a study into future numbers of passengers as well as vehicle and freight requirements.

In the coming months, the team will also visit as many locations as possible whilst endeavouring to keep communities informed as the project progress.

A dedicated website to the project is now live; visit www.smallferriesproject.com to find out more.

Notes to Editors:

• The grant of £233,750 has been made by the Special EU INTERREG IVA Programme – a Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region and Western Scotland. The overall aim of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to: ‘Support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.’

• The areas covered in this study will include :
• Alt an Chorrain to Leab Gharbn, Arainn Mhor
• Alt an Chorrain to Toraigh
• Ballycastle to Rathlin
• Tarbert to Portavadie
• Gigha to Tayinloan
• Oban to Lismore
• Tobermory to Kilchoan
• Sconser to Raasay

• CMAL, who own property at piers and harbours at more than 21 locations throughout Scotland, are embarking on a programme of investment and improvements which will create better facilities and more opportunities for additional ferry services. CMAL also owns 31 ferries which are chartered to a number of operators. CMAL is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.
• The Department for Regional Development Northern Ireland (DRDNI) is one of 11 Northern Ireland Departments created in 1999 by the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. Their main responsibilities include regional planning, roads, public transport and certain policy and support work for water and sewerage, air and sea ports.
• The Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland aims to promote and support the sustainable and inclusive development of communities both urban and rural, including Gaeltacht and island communities.

Below is a picture of the Small Ferries Project Team meeting with Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson at the Rural Transport Conference – Making the Connection, held recently in Inverness:

Left – Right – Aodhán MacCormaic, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Ireland; Tony McConnell, Department for Regional Development Ports & Public Transport Division, Northern Ireland Executive; Scottish Government Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson with CMAL Managing Director Guy Platten, Andrew Flockhart of CMAL and Lawrie Sinclair, Chief Executive of David MacBrayne Ltd

A high resolution copy of this image is available to download HERE (right click save as)

Below is a picture of the Small Ferries Project Team visiting Rathlin Island:

Left – Right – Keith Walsh, DRDNI; Connor Murphy, Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Executive; Guy Platten, Managing Director of CMAL; Aodhán Mac Cormaic, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Andrew Flockhart and Norman Thomson of CMAL along with Sean Coulter, DRDNI.

A high resolution copy of this image is available to download HERE (right click save as)

Below is a picture of the Small Ferries Project Team visiting Arranmore:

Left to right Aodhán Mac Cormaic, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Éamonn Ó Cuív T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Guy Platten, Managing Director of CMAL and Keith Walsh, DRDNI.

A high resolution copy of this image is available to download HERE (right click save as)

For further information contact Andrew Flockhart, CMAL, on 01475-749920 or email andrew.flockhart@cmassets.co.uk

THURSDAY 9th JULY 2009

An EU grant of more than £230,000 has been awarded to a special cross border partnership to establish how best to design and build a fleet of small ferries to serve remote communities off the Scottish and Irish coastlines.  

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has partnered with the Department for Regional Development in the north of Ireland and the Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs in the south to examine a common design and procurement strategy for small ferries which could be used by each of the partners.

Funded by the EU’s INTERREG IVA programme, at least eight routes will be examined which covers the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland, including the Ballycastle to Rathlin route in Northern Ireland.
This strategy will help reduce overhead costs and increase the potential for efficiency savings through more joined up working across the jurisdictions. 

Ministers from Ireland, north and south, and Scotland have welcomed the development and the benefits that it will bring to the three partnership areas.

Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “This partnership heralds a new way of working together which will improve and enhance ferry services for remote and island communities on both sides of the Irish Sea. In these challenging economic times it is important we improve transport links across Scotland so that communities and individuals can  make the fullest possible contribution to our goal of increasing sustainable economic growth for years to come.”

Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs, Éamon Ó Cuiv T.D. added, ”We welcome this new partnership which draws the three Governments together with the shared goal of looking at delivering improved public services by sharing information and best practice while studying the advantages of common design and procurement.”

In welcoming the EU grant, Minister for Regional Development, in the north of Ireland, Conor Murphy said: “Joint co-operation through this partnership will bring benefits and improvements for our most remote communities. I look forward to the Small Ferries Project leading the way for further collaboration to assist the development of small islands.”

Notes to Editors:

• The grant of £233,750 has been made by the Special EU INTERREG IVA Programme – a Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region and Western Scotland. The overall aim of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to: ‘Support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.’
  
  
• The areas covered in this study will include :
• Alt an Chorrain to Leab Gharbn, Arainn Mor
• Alt an Chorrain to Toraigh
• Ballycastle to Rathlin
• Tarbert to Portavadie
• Gigha to Tayinloan
• Oban to Lismore
• Tobermory to Kilchoan
• Sconser to Raasay

• CMAL, who own property at piers and harbours at more than 21 locations throughout Scotland, are embarking on a programme of investment and improvements which will create better facilities and more opportunities for additional ferry services. CMAL also owns 31 ferries which are chartered to a number of operators. CMAL is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.

• The Department for Regional Development (DRD) is one of 11 Northern Ireland Departments created in 1999 by the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. Their main responsibilities include regional planning, roads, public transport and certain policy and support work for water and sewerage, air and sea ports;
  
• The Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland aims to promote and support the sustainable and inclusive development of communities both urban and rural, including Gaeltacht and island communities.

For further information contact Andrew Flockhart, CMAL, on 01475-749920 or email andrew.flockhart@cmassets.co.uk                                                      

WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH 2009