Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that consultants Halcrow have been appointed to undertake an appraisal, using the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), of options for the possible provision of a Mallaig-Lochboisdale ferry service.

CalMac has been asked by Minister for Transport Nicol Stephen MSP to undertake this study and now, after a formal selection process, Halcrow have been asked to complete the study by the end of March 2005.

The Minister had previously announced a willingness to include an option for the provision of a new ferry service between Mallaig and Lochboisdale service in the final Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Service (CHFS) tender specification.  However, Ministers intend to protect the current level of service across the existing network and there can, therefore, be no commitment to a Mallaig-Lochboisdale service until it is clear what the financial and other consequences might be. 

The Minister will take the STAG appraisal report into account in determining whether to include this additional service in the final tender specification.

Halcrow/CalMac will consult with a range of interested parties – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland Council, Argyll & Bute Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and a range of  other relevant organisations and stakeholders – to develop options for consideration in the STAG appraisal and, thereafter, at key stages of the appraisal process. 

CalMac Managing Director Lawrie Sinclair said: “The appraisal will include consideration of the nature of the service and, in particular, what its objectives would be.  From this will flow views about capacity and timetable requirements.  Ministers have made clear that they intend to protect the current level of service across the existing network.  The exception to this would be, of course, the consequential removal of the existing service between Oban and Lochboisdale.”

In addition to standard considerations for a STAG appraisal other issues which may be considered are: what implications there might be for other air and sea services, for example, by displacement of users; what costs and benefits might arise for the ports and the local economies of Oban, Lochboisdale and Mallaig (and the surrounding areas); vessel and crew requirements and any consequential infrastructure requirements; a breakdown of the costs that would fall to CalMac, the Executive and others (e.g. Harbour Authorities) as a consequence of the possible introduction of such a service, including vessel and crewing costs, infrastructure costs and any implications for the level of subsidy support required; if a new vessel were to be proposed for the route whether it would have spare capacity to serve other routes on the current network (and if so what options there might be); and whether, as a result of the removal of the service between Lochboisdale and Oban, there would be spare capacity in the fleet to allow additional services on the current network (and if so what options and costs/benefits there might be).

ends

For further information on the contents of this News Release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Head of Communication and Customer Care, Caledonian MacBrayne.  
Tel: 0776 435 4021; e-mail hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk.

Issued: Monday, December 6, 2004 : 1400