This e-newsletter is also available to view in Gaelic, please click HERE for the Gaelic version or HERE for the Irish version (PDF).
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Hello and welcome to the latest of our e-newsletters, keeping you in touch with what's happening with the Small Ferries 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.
If you would like to know more about our work or wish further information about the partners please don’t hesitate to get in touch www.smallferriesproject.com
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Community Visits
The Small Ferries Project team is continuing to engage with local communities and will be attending the AGM for the Irish Islands Federation on 15th May, giving the islanders of Rathlin and representatives from other islands off the Irish coast an opportunity to meet the SFP team and learn more about the aims and benefits of the project. The theme for the AGM is “Co-operation – the Future to Sustainability”.
Previously on 13th April the SFP steering group welcomed representatives from some of the ferry operators within the project area including Cara na nOileán Teo. (Árainn Mhór), Turasmara Teo. (Toraigh) and CalMac Ferries Ltd (Scotland). The workshop, held at CMAL’s offices in Port Glasgow, discussed the progress of the project to date and in particular, focused on concept vessels designs and harbour infrastructure. A number of points were raised which will now feed into the consultants’ final reports which will be published on the SFP website at a later date.
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European Maritime Day
Following last autumn’s successful one-day conference in Brussels to raise awareness of this project, the SFP Team has been invited to Gijon in Spain to give a presentation on the project at a conference to celebrate European Maritime Day on May 20th. The SFP will also have a stand at the exhibition between the 18-21st May which will further promote the project. European Maritime Day aims to highlight the importance of the sea and oceans for everyday life, both in coastal communities and across Europe as a whole. It also highlights the opportunities and the challenges currently facing maritime regions and sectors from tourism and fisheries to maritime transport and climate change. The SFP team will be present as part of a workshop entitled: "Shipping in the common European maritime space" which will be held on May 21st.
Workshop summary:
The European shipping industry and public administrations in the Member States have invested heavily in achieving a competitive and efficient industry. An efficient maritime transport system, eliminating administrative formalities inside the common European maritime transport area, will boost the internal market. E-maritime, green corridors and other emerging logistical concepts will all play an important role in the near future in promoting shipping in Europe.
CHAIR: Antonio Masip, Member of the European Parliament, Transport Committee
To register for this event follow: http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeday
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Ferry Designs
This 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. As well as examining the benefits of a joint procurement strategy, the project also looks at common designs for port infrastructure and ferries. As we develop a new series of vessel designs for ‘lifeline ferries’ that embrace the higher design standards needed for the effective operation of modern ferries, we must also ensure the designs remain flexible and can cater for the needs of different islands. Working with the Halcrow Group and using the findings from the MVA report on future passenger demand, our vessel design consultants Deltamarin are working on common small ferries designs which will be produced to meet the need of the island and rural communities for the next 25 years. A key component of this design will be the green challenge, making recommendations on how carbon emissions and environmental impact can be reduced through smarter ship and port design.
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Ports & Harbours
Meanwhile Halcrow Group Ireland are continuing their work on indicative designs for suitable port infrastructure to meet the needs of the communities served by the routes identified in the project and to estimate the cost of recommended infrastructure construction at each of the ports concerned off the Scottish and Irish coasts. Analysis of the designs for ferries and the associated infrastructure will then be used to produce a business case later in the year, which will identify the potential benefits and savings from a joint procurement strategy for the future replacement of the small ferries fleet across each of the partnership areas.
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About The Partnership
The overall aim of the Small Ferry Project is to develop a Strategic Plan which gives remote island and rural communities a cost effective ferry service from the mainland that corresponds to the needs of ferry passengers and businesses in the 21st Century.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has partnered with the Department for Regional Development Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Ireland to examine a common procurement and design strategy for small ferries which could be used by each of the partners.
By working together, the advantages of common design and a joint procurement strategy include skills and knowledge sharing across the three partnership areas, reducing overhead costs and increasing the potential for efficiency savings through economies of scale.
A 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 routes chosen to be examined during this project are all within the small ferry route specification and fall within the cross border area covered under the EU programme.
The routes being studied include:
• Alt an Chorrain to Leab Gharbh, Arainn Mhor
• Alt an Chorrain to Toraigh
• Machaire Rabhartaigh/An Bun Beag to Toraigh
• Ballycastle to Rathlin
• Tarbert to Portavadie
• Gigha to Tayinloan
• Oban to Lismore
• Tobermory to Kilchoan
• Sconser to Raasay
In addition to the 9 routes already outlined which fall within the supported area we would anticipate that the outcomes from the project would have a far wider reach and benefit. Already there have been discussions with councils in Scotland that have a requirement to replace their small ferries on the West Coast of Scotland, and also further potential in Ireland where for example, the following routes could benefit from this project;
o Ros an Mhíl to Árainn
o Ros an Mhíl to Inis Meáin /Inis Oírr
o Roonagh to Clare Island / Inishturk
o Castletownbere to Bere Island
o Pontoon to Bere Island
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 Community, Equality, 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.
Look out for our next e-newsletter in the summer, with further updates regularly available on the Small Ferries Project website www.smallferriesproject.com
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If you know of any friends and colleagues who would like to receive the Small Ferries Project e-newsletter but are not currently on our mailing list, there is an opportunity to subscribe on the website www.smallferriesproject.com
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This e-newsletter is also available to view in Gaelic, please click HERE for the Gaelic version, or HERE for the Irish version (PDF).