This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Gourock-Dunoon ferry tender
20/03/2003
Steps were taken today to tender the Gourock-Dunoon
ferry service separately from the rest of the Clyde and
Hebrides services.
Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald published
consultation proposals for the tendering exercise, as well
as a draft Invitation to Tender, which includes the service
specification.
Together these proposals set out the Executive's plans
to tender the routes separately which will allow more
flexibility whilst still remaining within EU rules.
Potential operators will be able to bid on the basis of
either a passenger-only service or a combined passenger and
vehicle service.
The proposals restrict the subsidy available to the
passenger service but still allow bidders to offer a
combined passenger and vehicle service. The contract will
go to the lowest cost bid that complies with the service
specification.
Mr Macdonald said:
"The lifeline ferry services currently provided by
CalMac in the Firth of Clyde are vital to the economic and
social well being of the local communities, and this is why
we are committed to maintaining these services within the
constraints of the European rules that we have to
follow.
"The draft service specification being published today
responds to local communities' concerns about the Gourock
to Dunoon service by taking forward our decision earlier
this year to tender the route separately. I encourage all
those with an interest to participate and let us have their
views."
Over 400 comments were received (including standard
responses) in response to the Executive's draft Invitation
to Tender and Service Specification for the Clyde and
Hebrides Lifeline Ferry Services published on June 27,
2002.
Lewis Macdonald met EC representatives in Brussels
on November 2002 and was joined by representatives of
Argyll & Bute and Inverclyde Councils. Following
discussions with the Commission and Argyll & Bute and
Inverclyde Councils, new proposals were announced
on January 29.
Tendering the Gourock-Dunoon route separately will
involve:-
allowing operators the freedom to bring their
vessels
- maintaining the restrictions (frequency and length
of operating day) that have applied to the
Gourock-Dunoon service currently operated by Caledonian
MacBrayne
- determining the outcome on the basis of the lowest
cost bid (in line with the rules for PSOs) regardless
of whether this is for passenger only or combined
service
- the passenger service and passenger fares will be
prescribed through the PSO
The consultation will close on May 30.