Comment posted Who’s the April fool? SPT propose another £96k for Clydelink on the Kilcreggan-Gourock ferry contract by Ferry Good.
as far as I am aware class 5 and class 4 are just like the star rating for hotels, with class 4 having additional safety equipment.
the proposed new ferry is going to have just the same dimentions as it was before throwing 96K at it.
I dont understand how this will make it a more seaworthy vessel?
Im sure the tender document required the new ferry to comply with EU Directive 98/18 and this directive supercedes the 5 or 4 clasification anyway.
someone please correct me if I am wrong?
it seems goalposts keep on moving and it is SPT’s competency that should be questioned??
the whole thing if just a farce and to what cost to our community?
lets get this sorted before its way too late?
Recent comments by Ferry Good
- One real issue and some strange arguments against Cove Community Wind Farm
Thanks newsroom for a very good article. What I would like to ask for anyone wishing to show their support on this planning application. Please can you do so at the address below, your support will be greatly appreciated.http://publicaccess.argyll-bute.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=MEKKRGCHCH000
- More shenanigans as Easdale puts it on the slate
I think channel 4 should be contacted; wouldn’t that be a great production for them?It seems there is some champion Tossers involved in this, or should I say World Champion Tossers?
someone is going to get slated for this!
groan……
- Loch Long minke whale now distressed
todays local newspaper, Helensburgh Advertiser has a story saying its a humpback whale. - Silvers Marine facing liquidation
I hope the liquidator is able to rescue the situation and keep all Silvers staff. I’m sure there are a few local businessmen willing and able to step in and run the place competently.How can anyone dislike this?
- Tuesday 1st May: Kilcreggan-Gourock morning sailings cancelled
Those creels have been there for years and outside of the required 200m approach exclusion zone. Perhaps the antique skipper should be hanging up his rowlock’s? Is this another example from the catalog of errors?
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as far as I am aware class 5 and class 4 are just like the star rating for hotels, with class 4 having additional safety equipment.
the proposed new ferry is going to have just the same dimentions as it was before throwing 96K at it.
I dont understand how this will make it a more seaworthy vessel?
Im sure the tender document required the new ferry to comply with EU Directive 98/18 and this directive supercedes the 5 or 4 clasification anyway.
someone please correct me if I am wrong?
it seems goalposts keep on moving and it is SPT’s competency that should be questioned??
the whole thing if just a farce and to what cost to our community?
lets get this sorted before its way too late?
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If these changes can be implemented within 3 weeks, then yes, they are not structural and will provide no more stability than a Class 5.
I have questioned SPT on the delivery date for this vessel, and this beggars belief. The vessel should have completed sea trials by now and getting ready for service.
This is complete incompetence.
Take your bets on this new vessel operating on April 1.
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Fear not Clydelink has a contingency plan, they will have 2 RIBS shuttling passengers across the Clyde!!
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Jamie – ‘…these changes…are not structural’ – if the contract wasn’t awarded until 10th February, and Clydelink say they’re building a new ferry to be ready for service on 1st April, it’s highly unlikely that the ferry itself is ‘structural’ – a balsawood kit, maybe?
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The MV Seabus was supposed to be ‘purpose-built’ as the long-term Gourock-Kilcreggan-Helensburgh boat and now we hear that she is to be withdrawn from the above route on 31st March 2012 as her owners , Clyde Marine Motoring , ends their relationship on this service on 1st April after 30-odd years. The ‘new-kids-on-the-block’ , Clydelink Ltd will take over in a new tender with their own ferry (ies?) and crew(s). They have but a short time to test out their new proposed vessel(s) in sea trials and these boats have never been seen in and around Gourock. It is also unfortunate that Helensburgh will become a seafront only with no ferry service at all. The cross-Clyde link will be broken – ‘due to lack of usage’ and the seabed around Helenburgh Pier silting up and the boats cannot get into moor at very low tides – Does this mean the Waverley will abandon Helensburgh too? One big huge cost-cutting exercise!
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We have been told by a long time maritime business expert that a Class 4 boat is a licence to go into Category D waters – and that a Class 5 is licenced for Category C waters – which the Kilcreggan to Gourock route never leaves.
So there appears to be no advantage in upgrading the new ferry to a Class 4.
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The Island Princess based in Lymington where it does summer trips is our “new” vessel!! Look up Puffin Cruises Lymington.
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http://www.puffincruiseslymington.com
Harry I just looked at the new vessel and my worst fears are confirmed. Is it true that this vessel is supposed to take 60 passengers, it could only do that with half of them on deck exposed to the elements!!!
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Councillor David Wilson from Inverclyde Council, who sits on the SPT Operations Committee (and who was presumably at today’s meeting of that committee) has stated in an email today that: “Clydelink have acquired the “Island Princess” currently sailing on the Solent. It is a Class 4 and can seat 96. The new service will commence on the 1st April and will require no further capital input from SPT. This seems to be a good resolution. Officers have listened”.
It is assumed that this information was given to him and other members of the Operations Committee by SPT officers at today’s meeting.
This would appear to confirm that all the statements that have been made over the past few weeks that the Clydelink vessel would be new, was currently under construction and had not been in service before were certainly NOT correct.
The statement in the SPT Q&A document that “Clydelink has indicated that it will provide a new-build vessel” was clearly incorrect.
When Harry Cathcart asked a few weeks ago if the Island Princes was going to be the vessel used by Clydelink on the Gourock – Kilcreggan route, he was told that was not the case and that a new vessel was currently being built for Clydelink to provide this service. It is now clear that Harry was correct and the answers he received were incorrect.
As Cllr Wilson has stated that this vessel will require no further capital input from SPT, the question must now be asked why officers were recommending a grant of £80,250 plus VAT when it has now been confirmed that this funding is not required?
Cllr Wilson considers that “this seems to be a good solution”. I am sure that those Council staff who are currently facing redundancy and those people living in Helensburgh who are about to lose their only ferry service are unlikely to agree with him.
Cllr Wilson also states that “officers have listened”. The question is, who have they listened to? Have they listened to those of us who have complained over the past few weeks or are they now listening to their own legal advisors?
It is clear to most of us that this issue still has some way to run.
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‘This issue has some way to run’ – will the government wade into these grubby waters to save the people from their fate, or will SPT be left to continue on its apparently rudderless course until it collides with something big enough to sink it?
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Like The ‘Sugar Boat’ , it can still be seen but virtually useless. Still no sign of this mythical Clydelink boat around Gourock or Kilgreggan ‘working-up’ and it’s the evening of the 31st March 2012. Will Clyde Marine get an extension on the service? on April Fool’s Day.
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Perhaps some of those “officers who listened” in Cllr David Wilson’s email could be employed by Argyll & Bute Council and we could get rid of the current officers in Kilmory who do not listen.
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Sorry to hear the ferry service Gourock to Helensburgh is closing down. Used it myself many a time. Thoughtless people,wonder how many brown envelopes were flying about ??
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The public seem to be the last concern during the tendering process. Kilcreggan has had the security of a ferry service for generations and this now looks in danger of being lost. Now that our health service is centralised to the south of the river this service is needed more than ever. If there is no suitable ferry service are people expected to risk their safety climbing into RIBS or substandard vessels? I hope the people responsible do not live to regret this decision and think again before it is too late. The money saved (which is dwindling by the day) is paltry compared to life and limb, which is at stake if this goes ahead. Our unmanned pier will now be at risk of being vandalised and becoming derelict through neglect. The pier and ferry service have been integral to the life of Kilcreggan for over 100 years, this may be its swan song.
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Annual Budgetary saving £193,567 minus £96,000 for the upgrade to class 4, minus £20,000 to Argyll & Bute for pier staff…
This reduces the budgetary saving to £77,567
However…
Optional tenders submitted by Clyde Marine Motoring to reduce cost were not factored into the saving.
A reduced service was tendered at £328,320 and a service including 2 return sailing to Helensburgh 3 times a week in high summer season at £330,304. If the £20,000 saving on pier staff is factored in the saving is again reduced to £133,370 and £135,354 respectively.
Clearly SPT are prepared to fudge the figures in order to push this shambles through!!!
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I omitted to factor the saving of £96K+ that would not be required by Clyde Marine Motoring because the Seabus does not need upgraded or modified…
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a facebook cause has been started to inform the public about this and rally support for a safe reliable service. The link is below, feel free to join and comment.
http://www.causes.com/causes/658050-save-kilcreggan-ferry
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