New ferry ‘no comparison’ to what Arran requested
Arran Ferry Committee pledges to work with all parties to achieve appropriate service and capacity for island’s needs
Island views for the design of the new Arran ferry, MV Glen Sannox, were completely ignored, Isle of Arran Ferry Committee has said.
It says the vessel which will finally be delivered four years late bears no comparison to what was requested for the Ardrossan to Brodick route.
The committee’s comments come in its response to the rural economy and connectivity committee report published last month by convener Edward Mountain, which, as reported in the Banner, called the management process for the new Arran ferry and her sister ship at the now-nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard a ‘catastrophic failure’.
The response from chairman Iain Thomson states: ‘Arran Ferry Committee welcomes the RECC report which gives justification to much of what the Arran Ferry Committee and the Arran community have been saying for quite some time – namely that islanders’ views ‘have not been given weight in decision making’ and must be given ‘a much stronger role in providing input to the design of future new ferries’ and that ‘a better balance in decision making’ should be in place.
‘What is being delivered bares no comparison to what was requested for our route,’ he added. ‘When the final vessel designs were communicated, they were advised as being designed for the routes when all aspects of the service were considered, which has subsequently been shown to be incorrect with a requirement for further investment in port infrastructure at Ardrossan now being necessary to accommodate the new vessel.
‘It may be too late to influence any significant changes to current vessel design and we must hope that the indications for improved service levels from the investments delivers the much-needed resilience which is required to aid the island’s recovery and future sustainability.
Mr Thomson continues: ‘AFC also notes the report ‘supports a recommendation for a more standardised approach to the design and for the construction of smaller ferries as a means of improving network resilience, reducing costs and increasing frequency of services’ and we are very willing to participate in any such discussions to ensure future designs and services provide value for money for the public purse and address the environmental challenges for the future.
‘Questions of design, rate of fleet replacement and energy sources all need to be considered in a timely manner with a commitment from government to commit to a future policy statement which all island communities will rely on for their future sustainability.
‘Arran Ferry Committee will continue to voice views from the community and work with all parties to ensure that, from this calamitous episode, lessons are learned and we can finally receive the levels of service and capacity which we have not enjoyed for some time.’
Sir,
Having read the rural economy and connectivity committee report on the ferry fiasco, which castigates everyone concerned - CMAL in particular - it is disappointing to note there is no comment on the basic unsuitability of the craft as designed.
The sheer size of Glen Sannox will condemn the people of Arran to 25 further years of weather-related disruption.
Furthermore, the passenger capacity of the vessel intended for the Minch triangle is three times greater than required and, again, the sheer size means huge sums need to be spent on the piers used.
Doubtless CMAL will seek to justify the over-provision of passenger capacity on the need for interchangeability across routes but this argument does not wash given the requests of users to provide two smaller vessels which would have proved less expensive, with smaller crews, lower fuel consumption and which would have provided a more frequent, less disrupted service without the need to spend vast sums updating piers and harbours.
It is unfortunate CMAL continues to ignore the requests of islanders, many with seagoing experience and all having experience of generations of ferry use.
It is time to have a complete reappraisal of ferry procurement more attuned to the needs of islanders and more suited to the limitations of the harbours involved.
Scaling up continues to escalate weather-related disruption.
It is sobering to reflect that the combined cost of these ships, together with associated shore works, would have purchased 15 catamarans such as Alfred, which can take 98 cars, enough to have replaced ALL large vessels in the fleet. The government cannot, again, kick this matter into the long grass. Perhaps our first minister should get on with governing and abandon the daily party political broadcast.
It was recently pointed out that, during the Falklands war, Margaret Thatcher, like her or not, appointed a spokesman to give the daily briefings while she got on with the business of government. Perhaps our FM should take a leaf out of her book, though, perhaps not too many.
It is time for the government to put an embargo on further design and procurement until a team, prepared to embrace modern practice, is installed. They could do worse than examine, in detail, the outstanding success of Western Ferries and Pentland Ferries which provide an excellent service to their respective communities totally without subsidy. Taxpayers’ money is being squandered without any apparent accountability. It is time for radical change. Yours,
J Patrick Maclean,
Oban.