Item: 11 Development and Infrastructure Committee: 13 November 2018. Inter-Island Ferry Services – Proposed Summer 2019 Timetables. Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure. 1. Purpose of Report To consider the proposed inter-island ferry services timetables for summer 2019. 2. Recommendations The Committee is invited to note: 2.1. That the inter-island ferry services timetables for summer 2019 are scheduled to operate from 5 May to 30 September 2019. 2.2. That draft timetables in respect of ferry services to be operated by Orkney Ferries Limited during summer 2019 were presented to the Ferry Services Consultative Forum for consideration on 22 August 2018, with main comments and representations from transport representatives outlined in section 4 of this report. 2.3. That, on 20 September 2018, the proposed timetables, together with feedback from the Ferry Services Consultative Forum, were considered by the Board of Orkney Ferries Limited and recommended to the Council for implementation. 2.4. That the proposed timetables, attached as Appendix 1 to this report, remain consistent with those operated during summer 2018, including the option of including the Tuesday and Thursday return link from Eday to Sanday for education purposes, which is currently being trialled. 2.5. That, in the event the trial referred to above does not continue, the timetable in respect of the Outer North Isles would revert to the level of service operated during summer 2017, attached as Appendix 2 to this report. Page 1. 2.6. That, in advance of the Council’s budget setting process for 2019 to 2020 being concluded, any decision on the proposed Orkney Ferries summer timetable for 2019 will be subject to an adequate service revenue budget being established for financial year 2019 to 2020. It is recommended: 2.7. That, subject to an adequate service revenue budget being established for financial year 2019 to 2020 and subject to the trial of a Tuesday and Thursday return link from Eday to Sanday continuing, the timetables in respect of ferry services to be operated by Orkney Ferries Limited during summer 2019, attached as Appendix 1 to this report, be approved. 2.8. That, should the trial referred to at paragraph 2.7 above not continue, the timetable in respect of ferry services to be operated to the Outer North Isles during summer 2019, attached as Appendix 2 to this report, be approved. 3. Background 3.1. In accordance with the Service Level Agreements entered into by Orkney Ferries Limited and the Council, a recommendation from the Board of Orkney Ferries must be made via the Head of Marine Services, Engineering and Transportation in order for the winter and summer timetable periods to be approved by this Committee. 3.2. The draft timetables for summer 2019 were considered by the Ferry Services Consultative Forum on 22 August 2018. The key issues discussed at the Forum are outlined in section 4 below. The draft timetables are also circulated to Community Councils for consideration and comment in advance of the Consultative Forum meeting. 3.3. The draft timetables and feedback from the Forum were considered by the Board of Orkney Ferries Limited on 20 September 2018. 4. Ferry Services Consultative Forum 4.1. The Graemsay, Hoy and Walls, Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre and Gairsay, Shapinsay, Papa Westray and Flotta Community Councils had no comments on the proposed timetables for summer 2019. Page 2. 4.2. North Ronaldsay Community Council had no comment on the proposed timetable however, the representative requested that some resilience is given in order to get goods, particularly fresh food, to the island as quickly as possible if a ferry has to be cancelled. It was agreed that this would be considered further by Orkney Ferries Limited. 4.3. The Outer North Isles timetables were considered by the Forum, noting that the request from Education Services to provide an all year-round link from Eday to Sanday return had been incorporated. At the request of parents, a Tuesday and Thursday return link has been incorporated in the timetable, thereby enabling Eday S1 pupils to attend Sanday Junior High School two days per week. This was introduced on a trial basis from August 2018 and will be reviewed by Education Services in 2019. 4.4. The Eday Transport Representative referred to the Sunday timetable change, whereby Eday and Stronsay have been combined since 2017 due to high vehicle demand on the Sanday sailing. It was further noted that the timetable change had also affected Sunday excursions, and therefore, a request was made to link Eday and Sanday and Eday and Westray for a number of excursion dates if possible. 4.5. The Stronsay Transport Representative made a request to revert back to a direct sailing to Stronsay on a Sunday, consistent with the request made from the Eday Transport Representative. 4.6. Reflecting the requests made above, the Sanday Transport Representative requested a link to allow Eday residents to come to Sanday to attend church on Sunday. 4.7. In considering the requests to revise the routing of Sunday sailings, consideration has been given to the usage of these services in prior years, notably vehicle carryings. The data supplied by Orkney Ferries Limited for the 21 Sundays of operation in summer 2018 show that on average the first and return sailings have much higher carryings of vehicles to Sanday than to Stronsay and Eday combined – on the afternoon return sailing for example, 30 per cent of the deck space remains available from Sanday, compared to 60 per cent of the deck space available on the Stronsay and Eday combined sailing. Furthermore, nearly 20 per cent of the Sanday return sailings to Kirkwall in the afternoon were running full, and a further 19 per cent had only up to 24 per cent of the deck space available. This is notably higher utilisation of the deck space than is the case for the combined Stronsay and Eday sailings on a Sunday, which, more often than not, sailed with more than half of the Page 3. deck space remaining available. The data for the 2018 summer Sundays is shown below. 1st Sailing from Kirkwall Return sailing from isles Outward sailing to isles in morning to isles in evening in evening Stronsay Stronsay Eday and Sanday Sanday Stronsay and Eday and Eday Sanday AVERAGE deck space 62% 71% 30% 60% 64% 88% remaining available 75-100% of deck space 33% 57% 5% 33% 29% 95% remained available 50 - 74% 43% 33% 19% 52% 57% 5% 25 - 49% 19% 5% 38% 0% 10% 0% 1 - 24% 5% 0% 19% 14% 5% 0% Deck full 0% 5% 19% 0% 0% 0% 4.8. The Stronsay Transport Representative further requested amendments to the timetable for the Sanday Show and the Stronsay Massive Weekend to allow inter island travel. A change to the excursion from Westray to North Ronaldsay was also requested, to allow residents to attend the fun weekend on Stronsay. 4.9. The Ferry Services Manager agreed to consider these further requests regarding Sunday excursions and to report back via the Liaison Office as to whether these requests could be incorporated within the programme for summer 2019. 4.10. The Westray Transport Representative was unable to attend, however it had been requested, by email, that the Sunday Excursions are reconsidered. The North Ronaldsay Transport Representative advised that Sunday Excursions are a huge benefit to North Ronaldsay. With the exception of North Ronaldsay excursions, it is felt that consideration should be given to amending excursions in the future. 4.11. The discounted book of tickets was raised by Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre and Gairsay Community Council via memorandum and whether the vehicle books could be changed so that any family/household vehicle could be used rather than books issued per vehicle. It was noted that a Road Equivalent Tariff type tariff is being considered for the inter-island ferry service network, which would in effect remove the existing books of tickets and unfairness associated with only obtaining a discount if bulk purchasing. It was agreed that the matter would be considered further by Page 4. Orkney Ferries Limited. Subsequently, the company has now implemented a change to vehicle books of tickets, such that households are now able to list two household vehicles per book of tickets. 4.12. As no further comments were made, it is recommended that the draft summer 2019 timetables, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, are approved, which includes retaining the Sunday link of Eday with Stronsay on the first sailing out from Kirkwall and subsequent afternoon return. Should the Eday education trial not continue, it is recommended that the timetable for the Outer North Isles, attached as Appendix 2 to this report, be operated. 5. Links to Council Plan 5.1. The proposals outlined in this report relate to improved outcomes for communities as outlined in the Council Plan strategic priority theme of Connected Communities. 5.2. The proposals in this report relate directly to Priority 1.9 Work with Scottish Government and other partners to progress the outcomes of the Inter Isles STAG (Strategic Transport Appraisal Guidelines) Strategic Business Cases in order to develop and then deliver the Outline and final Business Cases for improved inter isles transport services and the associated ferry, air and infrastructure improvements of the Council Delivery Plan. 6. Links to Local Outcomes Improvement Plan The proposals in this report support and contribute to improved outcomes for communities as outlined in the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan priority of Strong Communities. 7. Financial Implications 7.1. The timetables proposed in this report, attached as Appendix 1, represent a continuation of the existing level of service provision, with the exception of the option to accommodate and continue a link between Eday and Sanday on a Tuesday and Thursday which is currently being trialled for Education purposes.