Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022)
INNER HEBRIDES
MULL
Current Service Provision
56. Mull has four ferry routes. The service to Iona (from Mull) is considered under Iona. Of the remaining three routes, the service between Oban and Craignure is the principal route to the Scottish mainland. The remaining two routes, Fishnish to Lochaline and Tobermory to Kilchoan, connect Mull to the Morvern and Ardnamurchan peninsulas respectively. These routes are considered under Ardnamurchan and Morvern respectively.
57. The current service between Oban and Craignure is provided by a single vessel (the Isle of Mull) with a sailing duration of around 45 minutes. A typical operating day during the summer time-table period runs from around 9 am to 7 pm. There are normally six to seven sailings per day, with an earlier sailing on a Monday at 8 am and very early morning sailings on a Thursday and Saturday.
58. The winter time-table is slightly truncated compared with the summer time-table. The service continues to operate a seven day service, with the last service on 4 days from Craignure at 5 pm and on 3 days at 7pm.
Assessment of Current Service Provision
59. Our routes and services needs-based assessment tool allows us to make an evidence-based assessment of current services on the Oban to Craignure route for Mull. Our assessment showed that Mull needs a more frequent service than the six to seven sailings per day provided at present.
60. The model service profile for the length of the operating day during the summer period is for a typical day in excess of 14 hours, running from early in the morning through to late evening. The model service profile would require an extension of the operating day to run earlier and later sailings than is the case at present.
61. For the winter service the gap between the current and model service provision was the actual number of services, rather than the length of the operating day. There was a requirement to increase the current number of services during the winter time-table period.
Programme for Future Service Provision
62. The Draft Ferries Plan consulted on an upgrade to a two-vessel service, both to improve frequency and the length of the operating day, for the Oban to Craignure service. These particular proposals were generally welcomed by the community. We can confirm that this will form the basis of future service provision for the Oban to Craignure service.
Medium-Term - (within the period of the interim CHFS contract)
Winter Period
63. At present the Isle of Mull provides services to Colonsay during the winter time-table period. The intention is for the Isle of Mull to be a dedicated vessel on the Oban to Craignure link (separate arrangements will be made for the Colonsay service).
64. The effect of this measure is to increase the number of sailings during the winter period on those days when the Isle of Mull would previously have been providing a service to Colonsay. We anticipate additional sailings on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The summer time-table will not change from the current arrangements during this time.
Longer -Term - within the next main Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract period, commencing 2016)
Summer Period
65. An additional passenger and vehicles vessel will be made available on this route during the summer timetable period. The impact of this change will mean a significant enhancement over the current level of service provision. As well as an increase in the frequency of sailings on a typical operating day, we anticipate early morning departures from Craignure (around 7 am) on most days of the week, and daily evening sailings at around 8 pm and 10 pm.
66. We recognise that the introduction of RET on this route, within the term of this Parliament, will result in a significant decrease in fares and therefore a substantial increase in demand. A series of temporary measures (e.g. chartering an appropriate vessel) will apply to the intervening period between the introduction of RET and the deployment of the additional vessel for the summer period on a permanent basis.
ARDNAMURCHAN/MORVERN
67. There are a total of four ferry services from the Ardnamurchan/Morvern area. Two services, Tobermory to Kilchoan and Fishnish to Lochaline, connect with Mull. The Corran ferry connects to Lochaber. There is also a small passenger-only ferry service from Camusnagaul to Fort William.
Tobermory to Kilchoan
Current Service Provision
68. The Tobermory to Kilchoan ferry service runs seven times per day during the summer time-table period. There is also a Sunday service between May and August. The number of sailings per day drops in the winter time-table period to between three and four sailings per day. The crossing time is around 30 minutes in duration.
Assessment of Current Service Provision
69. The Draft Ferries Plan acknowledged that while the Tobermory to Kilchoan service had many second route characteristics, it was clearly very important to the Ardnamurchan community. However, in view of the comparatively small vehicle patronage, the proposal was made that the present vehicle-passenger service would be replaced with a passenger only service.
70. The Draft Ferries Plan consultation invited people and organisations to comment on the proposed changes to the Tobermory to Kilchoan service. Around two-thirds of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with this proposal. Journey times and the potential damaging economic impact were the main reasons given for why the proposal should not go forward to the Final Ferries Plan.
Future Service Provision
71. We have carried out further work and consultation with the local community. We have carefully considered these representations and recognise that this route provides a particular purpose and provides substantial journey time saving, all generating economic benefit for the local economy. The vehicle-passenger service will therefore be retained for the Tobermory to Kilchoan route. The service will be maintained at current levels.
Lochaline to Fishnish
Current Service Provision
72. The ferry service between Lochaline and Fishnish is a seven day service. The crossing time duration of approximately 20 minutes allows for a frequent service from 7 am to around 7 pm. The number of services is reduced on a Sunday. The number of services per day is reduced further during the winter time-table period, although a seven day service is retained.
Assessment of Current Service Provision
73. The Draft Ferries Plan defined the Lochaline to Fishnish service as a second route. Along with the proposal to upgrade the main route from Oban to Craignure, was the prospect that the Lochaline to Fishnish route would be subject to an operational review following the Oban to Craignure upgrades.
74. As part of the Draft Ferries Plan consultation around two-thirds of the 417 respondents (who commented on proposals for Mull / Ardnamurchan and Morvern) expressed concern over a potential reduction in the level of service provision between Lochaline and Fishnish. Respondents were concerned that the loss or diminution of this service would have a detrimental impact on the lives of residents of Morvern. It was also argued that it was an important island-hopping route and is important to the local economies.
Future Service Provision
75. The route between Lochaline and Fishnish is used as a main route for the community of Morvern. The service will therefore be retained and maintained at current levels.
IONA
Current Service Provision
76. The island is served by a ferry service from Fionnphort on Mull. The crossing time is around ten minutes. A seven day service operates all year. A typical sailing day during the summer period runs from 9 am[7] to early evening (around 6.30 pm). Services on a Sunday are truncated in the morning, with the first service commencing around 9 am. The winter time-table offers a reduced number of sailings and a later start on a Sunday.
Assessment of Current Service Provision
77. Our routes and services needs-based assessment tool allows us to make an evidence-based assessment of current services for Iona. The outstanding issue appears to be the length of the operating day during the summer period. A model service profile would require later evening sailings than is currently the case with the existing service.
Future Service Provision - Long-Term
78. The Draft Plan consulted on the prospect of constructing a berthing facility at Fionnphort. This would improve the operational time of the vessel and allow an additional 90 minutes of service time in the evening, allowing for services to operate until 8pm. This proposal was welcomed by the community and will therefore form the basis for future service provision. The proposal is dependent on new physical infrastructure and will be considered as a long-term initiative.
LISMORE
Current Service Provision
79. There are two ferry services that link Lismore with the mainland. A passenger-only service from the north of the island, between Port Appin and Point, and a vehicle service from the south of the island that links to Oban.
80. The passenger service runs seven days per week from around 7 am through to 6.30 pm and has a crossing time of ten minutes. Later sailings are available on a Friday and Saturday. The operating day is truncated on a Sunday. The vehicle service operates to Oban from the south of the island with a crossing time of 50 minutes. During the summer time-table period there are four services per day from Monday to Saturday and two on a Sunday. A later evening Saturday sailing is available on request. The first service during weekdays is around 8 am and the last around 6 pm. The winter time-table is very similar.
81. The passenger service is currently run by the Local Authority. The vehicle service is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
Assessment of Current Service Provision
82. Our routes and services needs-based assessment tool allows us to make an evidence-based assessment of current services for Lismore. Both services between Lismore and the mainland run seven days per week so there is no issue with this particular aspect. A model service would require a more frequent service than the current vehicle service (the frequency of the passenger-only service is satisfactory). Also, both services terminate around the early evening, while a model service profile would offer a longer operating day during the summer time-table period.
Future Service Provision - Long-Term
83. The Draft Ferries Plan consulted on proposals that emerged from the CMAL-commissioned appraisal of future ferry services for Lismore - to replace the two existing services with a single passenger and vehicle service. The fact that neither service meets the model service profile for the island makes the prospect of combining both services, and therefore running a vehicle and passenger service only, very attractive. As noted in the Draft Ferries Plan, because of the shorter crossing time, any future service should be from Port Appin to Point, the current route for the passenger-only vessel.
84. The consultation itself highlighted a difference of opinion, with those in favour and those against finely balanced (although, amongst Lismore residents, more people were against the proposal than for[8]). The key problem appears to be with the choice of route for any improved vehicle-passenger service, with many respondents expressing concerns about the need for infrastructure improvements and the effects on journey times (to Oban) and possible wider adverse economic impacts associated with the Draft Plan proposal.
85. We have considered these responses carefully. As we stated in our working principles that we will work towards combining routes that overlap. We intend therefore to work towards a single route from Port Appin to Point, which is the shorter of the two crossings. The service would be a passenger vehicle service and would realise the improvements in frequency of sailing and length of operating day of the recommended model service profile.
86. This is a longer-term proposal as we recognise considerable improvements will be required to port infrastructure, public transport and road links. This range of issues will require further work and engagement with the community. We also intend to work with the Local Authority and other partners on the precise arrangements for this future service.
COLL & TIREE
Current Service Provision
87. Both islands share a ferry service that links them with Oban on the Scottish mainland[9]. It is around a three hour sailing time and provides a single service (return from Oban) seven days per week during the summer time-table period. During the winter period the number of days the service operates drops to four days only.
Assessment of Current Service Provision
88. Our routes and services needs-based assessment tool allows us to make an evidence-based assessment of current services for Coll and Tiree. The key difference between the current and model service profiles is the number of sailing days during the winter time-table period. The model service profile requires a daily return service from Coll and Tiree during the winter period.
Future Service Provision
89. The Draft Ferries Plan consulted on the requirement to improve the number of sailing days in the winter period, with a commitment to extend the time-table to six operating days per week. This commitment was subsequently welcomed, although very few responses were received from residents of Coll and Tiree. Representation was also made, mainly from Mull residents, about the possibility of a limited number of sailings calling in at Tobermory.
Short-Term - winter 2013/14
90. Currently the Clansman provides an all year service for Coll and Tiree (along with other islands). The service is augmented during the summer time-table period with the Lord of the Isles (LOTI). The difference in sailing days between the summer and winter time-table periods is because of the availability of these two vessels in the summer, as opposed to one vessel during the winter. The LOTI is unable to stay on-route during the winter time-table period, as she is used as a relief vessel when the larger vessels in the fleet are rotated through their annual refit programme.
91. The proposal from the winter of 2013/14 is to deploy the MV Isle of Arran - to ensure a two-vessel service for Coll and Tiree during the winter period. The operational impact of this decision will be to provide an additional sailing day during most of the winter time-table period (the current winter time-table will apply during the annual 4 week refit period for the MV Isle of Arran).
Longer-Term (within the next main CHFS contract period, commencing 2016)
92. In the long-term the Isle of Arran/replacement will not be available during the winter time-table period for this route. (Isle of Arran will be deployed on the Firth of Clyde.) The proposal for the new Oban Craignure service during the summer period will see two vessels operate on this particular route. One of these vessels will be deployed during the winter time-table to Barra, Coll and Tiree to enable the improved level of service to continue to be delivered. At this time we will also consider what other services may be offered to improve the level of provision within the new time-table.
Kerrera, Luing and Easdale Island
93. Our Draft Ferries Plan explained that the Kerrera ferry service is currently commercially run, whilst the Luing and Easdale services are currently provided by the Local Authority. As noted in chapter 5 our intention is to continue our discussions with local authorities about whether they wish to transfer responsibility for routes they are currently responsible for to Scottish Government.
94. We also noted that, for commercially run services, we will consider intervening where there is market failure and the service is considered to be lifeline. It has become clear that the commercially run service for Kerrera does not meet the needs of the community and is not sustainable either now or in a form that would meet the needs of the community. We have therefore been working to plan a package of measures for the continued provision of ferry services on the island. We are pursuing a solution in relation to this with Argyll and Bute Council. In the meantime, we are working with the Kerrera community and current ferry operators to provide short-term grant support for ferry operation and urgent improvements to infrastructure. We anticipate this support will continue for around 18 months to 2 years, until a longer term solution is found.