This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Next stage in Gourock-Dunoon ferry tender
31/07/2006
Three companies - CalMac, V Ships and Western Ferries - have been invited to tender for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service.
The service will carry both vehicles and foot passengers between Inverclyde and the Cowal peninsula.
In line with the views of many local interests the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service is being offered as a commercial service with no subsidy and the removal of the current operating and timetable restrictions.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"I am pleased that we are now able to move to the next stage of the tendering exercise.
"The Gourock-Dunoon ferry service is a vital lifeline for both local people and visitors to the area.
"I would encourage the three companies invited to tender to come forward with their ideas for running an efficient and reliable service between Inverclyde and the Cowal peninsula, that meets local people's transport needs"
The Executive have ensuresd bidders have as much commercial freedom as possible, therefore the service specification has been designed to maximise flexibility. However, certain statutory and essential requirements are specified and must be complied with.
The statutory requirements include aspects such as safety, relevant legislation, security etc. The essential requirements that must be complied with are:
- The service must be a combined passenger and vehicle service
- A minimum of one return sailing per hour
- As a minimum, the daily start and end times of the service should match the current CalMac timetable
- The service must operate between Gourock Pier and Dunoon Pier in Dunoon town centre
In addition the new service offers the possibility of:
- The new operator making use of the new linkspan at Dunoon
- The new operator bringing their own vessel solutions or chartering MV Juno and MV Jupiter for the route
- A Passenger Service Commitment setting out standards on a range of issues that the operator would agree to adhere to
- Integrated ticketing arrangements with other ferry operators and transport providers
The Executive is seeking to find an operator to provide a commercial ferry service between Dunoon pier and Gourock pier.
There are currently two operators providing ferry services from the Cowal peninsula to Inverclyde. CalMac currently operate vehicle and passenger services from Dunoon pier to Gourock pier. The CalMac services operate with restrictions on their timetable to avoid disproportionately affecting traffic on the competing privately owned Western Ferries service. Western Ferries operate a vehicle and passenger ferry service from Hunter's Quay to McInroy's Point.
The short listed companies have been invited to submit tenders to the Executive on the basis of an Invitation to Tender (ITT). Twelve organisations originally noted an expression of interest from which three Pre-Qualification Questionnaires were submitted.
Local communities argued hard for the continuation of a vehicle service. There is a view that this could be provided on a commercial basis without subsidy and with no restrictions in place. The Market Testing exercise will test this view.
If a suitable operator is identified, the current service, provided under subsidy arrangements through CalMac, would be replaced. However Ministers have made it clear that if no suitable operator is found then they will bring forward proposals to tender for a subsidised service.