Delay hits new ferry terminal
Brodick’s new £30 million ferry terminal will not open in August as planned, it emerged this week.
Instead it is likely to be October at the earliest before passengers will get to use the new pier facilities. This is due to a delay in the passenger access system (PAS) currently being built in Spain. The delay is all the more frustrating as the main site contractors, George Leslie Ltd, will complete the redevelopment of the ferry terminal and pier in August, on time and on budget.
However, Adelte, the specialist contractor appointed through a separate tender process to design and install the PAS at a cost of £1.5 million, which is currently under construction outside Barcelona, has experienced delays, impacting on the completion date of the overall project. The completion of the works at the new terminal is now scheduled to be late September or early October. On completion, CMAL will handover the terminal
to CalMac, which will need a few weeks to make it operational.
The delays have been caused by technical issues relating to the fabrication stage, as well as competing global workload demands. Adelte commenced work on the new PAS at Brodick in early June and was originally due to complete in July to allow operational trials to take place before the terminal opened to passengers in August.
George Leslie Ltd’s contract included the majority of the work required onsite, including construction of the new pier, development of a larger increased marshalling area from reclaimed land and the new modern terminal building, with bus stances and parking facilities.
CMAL’s head of civil engineering, Ramsay Muirhead, said: ‘We are very pleased that George Leslie Ltd is on track to complete the main site work early next month, as scheduled. Despite some very challenging weather conditions at times, the team has maintained solid progress throughout the project.
‘Unfortunately, Adelte has experienced unexpected delays in the delivery of our order, which will impact on the completion of the overall terminal redevelopment project. Clearly, we are very disappointed, particularly as all other areas of the project have remained on track with our scheduled completion dates.
‘We know the local community will be disheartened by this news and we are sorry that they will have to wait to use their new terminal.
‘This project has transformed the terminal and passengers will have access to fantastic new facilities, so we recognise they are keen to see it open.
‘We are just as eager for them to enjoy the new terminal and I would like to reassure islanders that we are doing all we can to minimise the delay. We have been involved in numerous meetings and conference calls on this issue and we have visited the Adelte factory in Spain and their offices, with more visits planned. We are working closely with them to ensure the work is completed as efficiently as possible.’
The extensive redevelopment project at the ferry terminal represents a major investment of around £30 million, led by CMAL, with support from Transport Scotland, North Ayrshire Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and the Coastal Communities Fund.