£4m investment for ferry firm

Western Ferries, which operates a vehicle and passenger ferry service linking Gourock and Dunoon, is to pump a further £4 million into upgrading one of its terminals.

The latest works include the delivery and installation of a 30m linkspan to replace the existing structure at Hunter’s Quay, Dunoon, as well as enhancements to the berthing facilities and the shoreside infrastructure.

Arch Henderson has been appointed as the consultant engineering firm to oversee delivery, while the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow will fabricate and install the new linkspan. Both appointments reunite the team that delivered upgrade works to Western Ferries’ terminal at Mcinroy’s Point, in 2017.

Meanwhile, Ipswichbased Red7marine has been appointed to deliver the shoreside infrastructure improvement works and enhancements to the berthing facilities following its success in a competitive tender process.

Gordon Ross, managing director of Western Ferries (Clyde), said: “This is an exciting time as we prepare to embark on this £4m phase of improvement works.

“Western Ferries operates more than 32,000 sailings and carries 650,000 vehicles every year. In order to provide the most frequent and reliable service possible for the Cowal and Inverclyde communities, we are fully committed to ensuring that our infrastructure is robust and that our investment programme continues to benefit the thousands of passengers who use and rely on our services for work and leisure.”

Kristen Branford of Red7marine added: “We have an excellent track record for delivery and are looking forward to working with Western Ferries to deliver this latest phase of enhancements and we are confident that the new facilities will be completed by the end of December.”

Some 1.3 million passengers use the service each year.