2.0 DRAFT FERRIES PLAN

2.0 DRAFT FERRIES PLAN

Relationship with Other Qualifying Plans, Programmes and Strategies

2.1 Scotland's National Transport Strategy (2006)2 included a commitment to conduct a comprehensive review of lifeline ferry services in Scotland, in order to develop a long-term strategy. In 2008, in response to a parliamentary inquiry into ferry services, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change re-committed to carrying out the review, which commenced in mid-2008.

2.2 The Scottish Ferries Review sits alongside the Strategic Transport Projects Review. The transport policy context for the Scottish Ferries Review is illustrated in Figure 1.

The Scottish Ferries Review

2.3 The purpose of the Scottish Ferries Review is to produce a Draft Ferries Plan which will define future investment into lifeline ferry services and infrastructure in Scotland. These services are illustrated in Figures 2-4. The Ferries Review is being taken forward in three stages:

  • consultation on what should be included in the Draft Ferries Plan;
  • preparation of a Draft Ferries Plan; and
  • publication of the final Ferries Plan.

2.4 The consultation on what should be included in the Draft Ferries Plan was undertaken in June 2010. The consultation elicited views about how ferry services could be delivered in the future. This included setting out and inviting views on the Scottish Government's proposed methodology for determining the route(s) and the level of service to communities served by ferries. Key issues addressed by the consultation included funding of ferry services (including the targeting of public funding, fares structures, etc) and responsibility for service provision.

2.5 A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the Ferries Review was carried out, focussing specifically on climate change mitigation issues, including current CO2 emissions and options for emissions reduction. An Environmental Report was published for consultation alongside the Ferries Review consultation document. The responses received and information from a number of other sources have been used to inform the preparation of the Draft Ferries Plan.

The Draft Ferries Plan

2.6 The Draft Ferries Plan sets out the Scottish Government's proposals for the provision and support of Scotland's ferry services, including decisions regarding funding and procurement, fares, responsibility for the provision of ferry services, and accessibility. The Draft Ferries Plan also sets out proposals for the provision of routes and services.

Figure 1. Policy Context for the Scottish Ferries Review

Figure 1. Policy Context for the Scottish Ferries Review

Funding and Procurement

2.7 The Scottish Government is considering alternate ways of taking forward funding of ferry services, ports and harbours, and vessels. These include working with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) to identify alternative financing options; a willingness of the Scottish Government to take on responsibility for some of the ports used for provision of subsidised ferry services that are currently owned by Local Authorities; and introducing flexibility into the tendering process to encourage innovation in the delivery of services.

Fares

2.8 Fares policy needs to balance Scottish Government's ambition for strong island and remote rural communities with the desire to put the ferry service as a whole on a more sustainable financial basis, while also addressing the sometimes competing priorities of residents and visitors. The Scottish Government proposes to introduce an overarching fares framework, which will use Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) as the basis for single fares for passengers and cars; work with operators to better manage demand where necessary (e.g. use of off-peak fares); and, for commercial traffic, continue to support existing discount schemes in the short term and, in the longer term, develop an overarching freight fares policy.

Responsibility for the Provision of Ferry Services

2.9 The Scottish Government is willing to be responsible for all 'lifeline' ferry services in Scotland. The Scottish Government will work with the relevant Local Authorities to discuss the possibility of the Scottish Government taking over responsibility for services currently provided by them or, alternatively, of the Local Authority assuming responsibility for any ferry service currently the responsibility of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government will also become responsible for ensuring the continuation of any lifeline ferry service currently provided by the private sector. The final Ferries Plan will represent the national framework for the provision of all subsidised ferry services in Scotland; adoption of this strategy will be the decision of those responsible for delivering these services.

Accessibility

2.10 The Scottish Government will encourage all operators to implement recommendations to improve accessibility to and within vessels.

Proposals for the Provision of Routes and Services

2.11 A summary of the proposals for the provision of routes and services is provided in Appendix 1. Full details of the proposals are set out in the Draft Ferries Plan which accompanies this Environmental Report.

2.12 These proposals for changes to the provision of routes and services fall into the following categories:

  • increase in the length of the operating day, the frequency of services and/or the number of sailing days
  • provision of new vessels
  • provision of new or improved physical infrastructure (e.g. construction of berthing facilities)
  • changes to routes, including: provision of a new route; and review of the operation of an existing service, following other improvements, to ascertain if the route is still required
  • changes to levels of service, including: change of existing service to a passenger-only service; rationalisation of existing services; supplementing existing passenger/loose freight service with a ro-ro service; revising part of the timetable to reflect island residents' needs; changing levels of subsidy for summer routes only
  • retain the status quo

2.13 The existing routes on which the proposals would result in increased numbers of vessel movements comprise:

  • Ardrossan-Brodick (Arran)
  • Colintraive to Rhubodach (Bute)
  • Cumbrae-Largs
  • Oban-Coll and Tiree
  • Oban-Craignure (Mull)
  • Iona-Fionnphort
  • Port Appin-Point (Lismore)
  • Mallaig - Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna (Small Isles)
  • Mallaig-Inverie-Tarbet (Knoydart)
  • Oban-Colonsay
  • Gigha-Tayinloan

2.14 One potential new route has been proposed, for implementation in the long term: Campbeltown (via Arran) to Ardrossan or Troon.

2.15 Port/harbour infrastructure improvements have been proposed at Brodick, Iona, Gigha, Stornoway and Ullapool.

2.16 Additional vessels have been proposed on the following routes: Ardrossan-Brodick, Oban-Craignure, and Mallaig-the Small Isles.

2.17 Changes to routes have been proposed as follows:

  • replace Tobermory-Kilchoan with a passenger-only service
  • replace the Port Appin-Point and Oban-Lismore services with a single passenger and vehicle service on the Port Appin-Point route

Figure 2. Scottish Ferry Routes: Orkney and Shetland Isles

Figure 2. Scottish Ferry Routes: Orkney and Shetland Isles

Figure 3. Scottish Ferry Routes: Western Isles

Figure 3. Scottish Ferry Routes: Western Isles

Figure 4. Scottish Ferry Routes: South Western Scotland

Figure 4. Scottish Ferry Routes: South Western Scotland