Irish Ferry

[Bobbie En Tejas]

"Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, with the exception of" Bubbly's posts getting kicked to naughty boy post hell. Sometimes you can't blink in here

[Malky]

"Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, with the exception of" Bubbly's posts getting kicked to naughty boy post hell. Sometimes you can't blink in here

Oh, writs travel even faster than Bubblys posts I'm afraid

Malky

[Bobbie En Tejas]

I think I have a solution

.

[general jack o'niell]

[Ship called Dignity]

Sad to see this lying like this, isn't it? Lets get behind the local bid!

Fergalltoo - are there forums/boards over your bit?

[paraffin man]

This question popped up on the other thread from fergaltoo.

It is a bit of sidetracking but also on topic,

If the ferry was unfortunate enough not to go ahead, what would be your views on an airlink if the money was made available there?

I am all for the ferry so i dont want people to get the impression i am not, i am merely asking the question to get a feel for it. In an ideal world it would be great to have both, but i dont see this happening.

[GarySutherland]

Sad to see this lying like this, isn't it? Lets get behind the local bid!

Yes, its criminal to see such a smart building laying unused when you consider the condition of some of the ferry terminals in the Highlands and Islands.

I wonder what will happen to it in the unfortunate event that the ferry service doesn't get going again?

Regards
Gary

[Ship called Dignity]

Seems there is hope yet!

From the Scotsman

THE Scottish Executive is to make a final attempt at restarting a ferry service between Argyll and Northern Ireland - despite no-one offering to run it.

The project appeared to be dead in the water in January after no bids were received for a second time to operate the Campbeltown-Ballycastle service, but Tavish Scott, the transport minister, yesterday said efforts were still under way to identify a possible operator.

He said: "A ferry service linking Campbeltown and Ballycastle would create new opportunities for business and tourism between Argyll and Moyle."

An unsubsidised summer-only service ran for three years between 1997 and 1999 before being withdrawn after suffering heavy losses.

Since then, efforts have been made to reinstate it, although a tender offer in 2002 received no bids, despite the prospect of a £1-million-a-year public subsidy for five years.

Business and tourism groups on both sides of the water backed a new service, with hopes that it would bring jobs.

This article: http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=379132006

[John S]

a final attempt ....

no-one offering to run it. ....

dead in the water.....

no bids

Interesting how reporters can twist things to suit making news,

As far as I can see

a final attempt!................... no ...................that might be the Scottish Parliaments opinion, the economic benefit that the ferry will bring won't go away because the Executive looses its nerve


no-one offering to run it!..............no.............there has been interest from operators in running this service for over 15 months


dead in the water!..................no..................fact is that interest from in the route from potential operators is stronger than it has ever been.

no bids!...................no................................several companies bid to run the route but were dismissed by the Scottish Executive as ineligible from their procurement programme.

The fact is that this ferry service - as a real service rather than a weekend jaunt to Ireland - is on the horizon so if you haven't already contacted your local MSP, here is his email address. - you could make a difference

George.lyon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

[oorly gourlay]

John S wrote

The fact is that this ferry service - as a real service rather than a weekend jaunt to Ireland - is on the horizon so if you haven't already contacted your local MSP, here is his email address. - you could make a difference

George.lyon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Perhaps he does take matters "on board" but he has neither acknowledged nor replied to three e-mails from me. Still, keep the pressure up and send in those e-mails.


oorly

[Annie]

JUST FYI for EVERYONE. I just received this reply to my e-mail today!!!!!!!!

Ms Williams

Thank you for your e-mail enquiry of 5 March 2006 about the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service, which was addressed to Scottish Ministers. I have been asked to reply.

Scottish Ministers have always recognised the potential local benefits of the service for those involved, and are very disappointed at the response to the tendering process. Minister for Transport, Tavish Scott MSP announced on Monday 13 March that he had agreed with his colleagues in Northern Ireland to make a final effort through a negotiated procedure to see the service reinstated within the terms of the current 2005-06 tender. The Minister explained that we are committed to ensuring that every option is considered under the current 2005-06 tender, before any final decisions are taken. I have enclosed a copy of the Minister's 13 March news release.

Our approach will be to explore potential interest from operators willing to run the service within the terms of the existing competition. Potential operators would have to meet the qualification criteria set for the earlier phase of the competition and any subsequent proposal would have to comply fully with the terms set out in the Invitation to Tender documentation for the 2005-06 tender.

We do not feel that it would be appropriate to comment on the reasons for the lack of response while we are still considering options within the terms of this tender, which is our current priority.

You have mentioned the Dalriada Shipping group's continued interest in running the service. Where a company, like Dalriada Shipping was involved in the earlier phase of the competition but not invited to submit a bid, we would need to consider their position afresh in light of any up to date information or change in their circumstances.

It is not possible to place a precise timescale on how long these investigations will take, but every effort will be made to establish the position as soon as practical.

I hope this is helpful.

<<Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service - Media - Negotiated Procedure - Final news release 13 March 2006>>

Cheryl Murrie
Scottish Executive
Ferries Division

31 March 2006

[smokynuk]

No offence to anyone but why did they run a ferry to Ballycastle in the first place wouldn't it be better to have one going to Ayr,Greenock or Glasgow?

Looking at the website and talking to people who went there it's almost the same as here so whats the point?



http://www.ballycastle.free-online.co.uk/

[4th gen Suthen']

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/59848.html

Read that with interest this morning.

The very last sentence caught my eye..........jeeeeeezo.

Seems they have put every possible obstacle in the way of our proposed ferry service.

[Annie]

Since then, efforts have been made to reinstate it, although a tender offer in 2002 received no bids, despite the prospect of a £1-million-a-year public subsidy for five years.

A Million a year, why is this not taking off! Ye'd think the boys fae Carra could come up with something!

I don't see what the problem is given the above - or am I just being a dumb bottle bleach blonde!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????