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Western Isles Ferry Services TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE 23 MARCH 2016 WESTERN ISLES FERRY SERVICES Report by Director of Technical Services PURPOSE OF REPORT To provide the Comhairle with an update on matters associated with ferry services to and within the Western Isles, specifically the Uig Lochmaddy Tarbert routes. COMPETENCE 1.1 There are no legal, financial, equalities or other constraints to the recommendation being implemented. SUMMARY 2.1 As reported previously, the ferry services between Uig, Lochmaddy and Tarbert have suffered an unprecedented level of disruption since the beginning of the year arising from the replacement of the MV Hebrides with the MV Hebridean Isles and the MV Isle of Arran for the period of 3 January to 26 February 2016, the subsequent relocation of the MV Isle of Arran elsewhere in the network and a high incidence of disruption, it has been suggested, due to adverse weather and sea conditions. 2.2 The level of disruption to businesses and the general travelling public has been significant and, despite representations by the Leader and the Director of Technical Services to the highest levels, the current operator would not, or could not, guarantee that this level of disruption would not be repeated in future winter periods. 2.3 At the time of writing, the MV Hebrides has not returned to the route as scheduled and clarification on a revised schedule has been sought from CalMac. A verbal update, if possible, will be provided at the Committee Meeting. 2.4 Construction on the two new vessels currently earmarked for the Ardrossan Brodick and the so-called Uig Triangle routes commenced in February 2016. Details of the new vessels were presented to members of the Hebrides Ferry Users Group on 24 February 2016 and a copy of the presentation by senior representatives from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) is included in the Appendix to the Report. 2.5 CMAL has given an undertaking that consultation with key stakeholders will continue during the detailed design, construction and commissioning stages. 2.5 The introduction of the new vessel on the Uig Triangle route will require improvements to the existing infrastructure at Lochmaddy Pier, which is owned and operated by the Comhairle as Harbour Authority. 2.6 Initial survey and design assessment work has been carried out and the outcomes are summarised in the body of the Report. This is, at this stage, an iterative process; however, regular updates, including any financial, legal or operational implications for the Comhairle will be provided by the Director of Technical Services as the project develops. RECOMMENDATION 3.1 It is recommended that the Comhairle note the Report. Contact Officer: Iain Mackinnon, Director of Technical Services; 01851 822656 Appendix: CMAL Presentation – New Vessel for Uig Lochmaddy Tarbert Ferry Services Background Papers: Report to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 10 February 2016 DISRUPTION TO FERRY SERVICES ON UIG LOCHMADDY TARBERT ROUTES 4.1 As reported previously, CalMac Ferries Ltd, advised the Comhairle in September 2015 of its proposals to replace the MV Hebrides on the Uig Lochmaddy Tarbert route with a combination of the MV Isle of Arran and the MV Hebridean Isles for the period 3 January to 26 February 2016. 4.2 Unfortunately, almost immediately after the implementation of the proposed revised arrangements, further revisions had to be put in place. This involved the relocation of the MV Isle of Arran elsewhere within the network and the route being almost entirely dependent on the lower-capacity MV Hebridean Isles. Although on a small number of occasions augmented by the MV Isle of Lewis, the resultant general reduction in capacity along with a high incidence of disruptions due to adverse weather and sea conditions gave rise to a significant level of disruption for communities and businesses in the Uists and Harris during the period. 4.3 The Leader of the Comhairle and the Director of Technical Services have both written to the Minister for Transport and Islands and Transport Scotland respectively complaining about the level of disruption experienced by the communities and businesses of the Uists and Harris and requesting that a discontinuation of the revised alternative arrangements be considered forthwith on the grounds that they are not in any way fit for purposes and that the MV Hebrides be returned to the Uig Lochmaddy Tarbert route as soon as is possible. 4.4 The responses to both representations are based on information provided by the operator which is included below: “Everyone involved in providing lifeline ferry links to the west coast shares the communities' frustration at the number of weather related cancellations on this route since the year end. Every cancellation on the Uig triangle in 2016 has been down to adverse weather. The annual winter refit period is always a challenge for us, as we do not have like-for-like replacements for every ship and need to find ways of maintaining services within the resources available to us. This requires a complex reshuffle which means vessels unavoidably being taken off their usual routes. We recognise this is not ideal but our options are extremely limited and some inconvenience cannot be avoided. In particular we have a limited number of large vessels like the MV Hebrides that are needed to service longer open water routes. During the refit schedule all our larger vessels that fit a variety of harbours are required to cover other routes, so we do not have any other options if we are to continue to operate a service as normal. The Uists are not the only communities to be impacted by dry docking arrangements and we do not favour any community over another when setting out the refit schedule. We serve many isolated and fragile communities and use our judgement and experience to accommodate their often competing demands and deliver the best service we can within the resources we have at our disposal. When a vessel is required to cover another route we do all we can to provide the best alternative service. In the past the MV Finlaggan has been assigned this task on the Uig triangle but consultation with local community told us this was not the solution they wanted so this year we have tried a two vessel service which in total provided 176 services on these routes from January 1-25 compared to 130 last year for the same refit period. We know that the communities' ideal solution would be for the MV Hebrides to be on year round service apart from its own refit period, but for the reasons outlined, this is just not possible within the confines of the fleet we currently operate. As the fleet replacement programme rolls out this situation may change. We realise this is not the answer some may wish to hear but unfortunately it is the reality of the operating environment in which we are working.” 4.5 It is suggested that the above response is less than satisfactory and, when asked at a recent meeting of the Hebrides Ferry Users Group on 24 February 2016 to provide guarantees that this level of disruption would not be repeated next winter, senior representatives of the operator were unable to do so. At the time of writing, the MV Hebrides has not returned to the route as scheduled and clarification on a revised schedule has been sought from CalMac. A verbal update, if possible, will be provided at the Committee Meeting. NEW VESSEL ON UIG LOCHMADDY TARBERT ROUTES 5.1 As reported previously, the contract between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, (CMAL) and Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd, (FMEL) to build two 100m “dual-fuel” ferries, worth £97m, was concluded in October 2015. Although subject to the final decision of the CHFS operator, currently CalMac, the new ferries have been earmarked for the Ardrossan Brodick and so-called Uig Triangle routes with the first ferry expected to enter service in May 2018, with the second vessel following a few months later. 5.2 The formal start of construction of the new vessels was marked by Derek Mackay MSP, Minister for Transport and Islands, at a ceremony at FMEL’s yard on the Clyde on 16 February 2016. 5.3 Details of the new vessels were presented to representatives of the Hebrides Ferry Users Group at a meeting on 24 February 2016 and a copy of the presentation slides are included for Members’ information as Appendix 1 to the Report. The key headlines of the proposed specification and design are: Length 102.4m Deadweight 900 tonnes Capacity 130nr cars or 16nr HGVs; 1,000nr passengers Speed 16.5 knots Dual-fuel capability Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) 5.4 CMAL has already undertaken initial consultation with community groups in North Uist and they have been encouraged to continue this across the wider network going forward during the detailed design and construction process. LOCHMADDY PIER 6.1 The replacement of the MV Hebrides by one of the new vessels highlighted above will require improvements to the existing infrastructure at Lochmaddy Pier, which is owned and operated by the Comhairle as Harbour Authority. 6.2 Although the proposed vessel is only some 3m longer than the MV Hebrides, the wider hull and heavier deadweight will increase berthing forces to the existing pier. Similarly, a quantity of dredging will likely be required to ensure there is sufficient draft for the new vessel at all stages of the tide. The increase in capacity of the vessel will also likely require additional vehicle marshalling lanes at the pier. 6.3 Initial assessment surveys and design development work has been carried out by Wallace Stone on behalf of the Comhairle with review work having been split into two parts – assessment of existing infrastructure; and preliminary design development of any necessary improvements based on the current understanding of the design and operational requirements of the new vessel.
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