New Rathlin Ferry Operator 6

The Rathlin Development and Community Association (RDCA) seems to have every confidence in the tendering process and the new operator. Time will tell whether or not such confidence is justified.

The RDCA was involved throughout the long and often complex tendering process. We have no criticisms whatsoever to raise with regard to the manner with which the tender was handled or with the outcome of the tendering process.

We are confident that the new ferry service, as operated by Rathlin Island Ferry Limited, will meet all of its contractual obligations.

Troubled waters: Rathlin and Cape Clear Ferries

Photos, documents and what the papers say.

Some pages from Rathlin Ferry Tender 2, January 2008

Adds July 13

Information about this mysterious affair continues to flow in from different parts of these two islands. I'm hearing that the MV Ossian of Staffa was only to be here for about two weeks and that it's replacement is experiencing engine problems in Donegal. Perhaps one of our regular readers can provide clarification.

Photographs show that the promised 20 minute passenger only ferry crossing took 30 minutes, or longer. Also, the 10 minute turn around time doesn't look realistic. How long would it take to, say, disembark passengers and then to embark new passengers and put them through a safety management routine?

Adds July 18

Is the St Sorney to be the replacement vessel? I understand it was owned recently by John Joe Fitzpatrick and that it has now been withdrawn from the Simon Thomas Yacht Sales (STYS) website. Is this the same vessel that is certificated on the Dublin Marine Survey Office to carry up to 12 passengers? It was described on the STYS website as a 35 passenger craft. Presumably the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will resolve the matter before it can go into service.

LOCHIN 40 PASS. CARRIER 35px Passenger Vessel (1999)
The well known Lochin Marine hull was built by Lochin Marine International and supplied to Ryan & Roberts, Ireland, for fit-out to the necessary specification.

My sources tell me that the St Sorney left Rossaveal in Co Galway about a week ago and was subsequently undergoing engine repairs in Burtonport, Co Donegal.

A report from Cape Clear claims that O'Driscoll's ferry there was also experiencing problems a few days ago:

Naomh Ciarán 11 broke down again today at lunch time, gearbox problems

The Fallen of the Causeway Coast 1939-1945

New Rathlin Ferry Operator 5

I've been given a 'missing in action' Department of Regional Development (DRD) document(s)* which shed(s) new light on the Rathlin ferry fiasco. Here are a few relevant snippets:

Programme: Rathlin Island passenger and roll on roll off ferry

Total Capital £m: 7.5 [£1.2m for (temporary) passenger ferry/catamaran and £6.3m for ro-ro ferry/ferries?]

Total Revenue £m: 1.5

Impact on Objective A: Maintain the 'life-line' economic connection of Rathlin Island to the rest of the north for the 70 (approx) island residents [as] well as develop the tourism potential of the island.

[Calmac - owned by the Scottish] Executive and may not be permitted by its parent department to operate outside of the Scottish undertaking for much longer.**

The current proposal targets .. and envisages the acquisition of a passenger vessel as an interim measure until a new purpose built vessel can be procured.

The first phase is to acquire a passenger only vessel to supplement the existing roll on roll off Rathlin ferry [MV Canna - owned by CMAL which in turn is owned by the Scottish Executive]. This will result in increased passenger carrying capacity to meet the burgeoning seasonal demand from tourists to travel to the island. [page 30]

The second phase involves procurement of a replacement (RoRo) ferry [perhaps two as one would be needed as a relief vessel] to facilitate a consistent level of freight to be carried to the island throughout the year. Freight carriage is currently restricted in summer months to accommodate higher passenger demand. The current passenger capacity is limited to 27 plus two cars (or one lorry) in winter and 125 passengers with no vehicles in summer. The current vessel is nearing the end of its working life and is providing a very basic service. To ensure the continuation of the service, investment in a new vessel is required in the near future. A lead-n time of 2-3 years is anticipated in acquiring a prpose built vessel and commitment of the necessary finances must be made ahead of undertaking procurement action?

Once the RoRo vessel is fully operational, scope may exist to dispose*** of the passenger vessel [catamaran?], generating a cash return to the service.

This document and related information poses a number of questions. Was the tendering process a smokescreen for decisions already taken by Stormont and Holyrood? Did all tenderers see this document and the Schedule A, Schedule B and Schedule C documents? Did Stormont have a preferred tenderer in place in 2007 and did Stormont officials provide technical assistance? Did Stormont check the credentials of all tenderers with their relevant opposite numbers in Holyrood and the Dáil?

Adds 03.07.08

Fast Ferry Sets Sail

Aine McGrady

The Chronicle - Moyle Edition

Adds 04.07.08

Some new images taken this morning.

Adds 05.07.08

More queries on ferry launch - News Letter

THE new operator of the Rathlin Island ferry has said that his first few days running the service have been "plain sailing".

Perhaps a little too plain. The 20-minute timetabled fast ferry crossing appears to be taking at least 30 minutes and that's in fairly calm conditions.

Boarding arrangements appear to be quite primitive. The steps appear not to have a hand rail and I presume physically impaired folks would have to be lifted aboard. There are hand rails leading down onto the pontoons but there appear to be no safety barriers around them.

Writing last Tuesday in response to Mr Dallat’s questions, Mr Murphy said that at that time Mr O’Driscoll was still “finalising” his ticketing system, safety management documentation and an environmental plan.

A copy of the tender scoring documents obtained by the News Letter shows that boxes for “ticketing and information”, “safety of operations” and “environmental considerations” were all ticked prior to the contract being awarded in April.

Here is a copy of Schedule A. Note that these boxes MUST be ticked in order to proceed to the, er, scoring process.

* http://applications.drdni.gov.uk/publications/
document.asp?docid=12213 ?

** Are there any documents in Belfast, Edinburgh or Glasgow to back-up this claim? It would seem to be at odds with CalMac's decision to put in a bid for the six year contract.

*** Why all the publicity about a catamaran if it's only intended to be an interim measure and before its suitability has been demonstrated?

Bushmills War Memorial Exhibition July 2008

The exhibition will commemorate the men and women from Bushmills and district who gave their lives in both world wars.

There'll be displays of photographs, personal stories and medals of individual service persons, along with memorabilia honoring local hero, Rifleman Robert Quigg VC.

Dunluce Parish Centre
Priestland Road
Bushmills

Friday July 11 - Thursday July 17
10:30am - 7pm
[except Sunday 2pm-5pm]

Refreshments available
Admission: Donation to Parish Building Fund

Organisers
Robert Thompson - WW1
Glenda Rodgers - WW2

Links
2007 Exhibition - pt 1 - pt 2
Bushmills War Exhibit
Bomber Crash at Giant's Causeway in WW2
Bomber Crash at Giant's Causeway

New Rathlin Ferry Operator 4

I wonder how many Moyle councillors had read John Dallat's questions prior to Monday's meeting or had consulted with their party headquarters. Did any of the councillors or council officials participate in the evaluation of the tenders? Have Dallat's questions been answered in detail or have they been put on hold?

Has CMAL leased the MV Canna to the new operator yet or are there still some outstanding matters to be resolved?

What is the name of the replacement ferry for the MV True Light? Why has the latter been removed from the contract? Is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency satisfied that with the arrangements that are to be put in place in a few days time on July 1?

Do any Executive ministers have plans to travel to Ballycastle or to Rathlin prior to July 1 on June 26*? If so, what sort of reception can they expect from Rathlin islanders? The islanders in Cape Clear don't seem to be too happy with the ferry operations put in place there by Minister O Cuiv.

Eamon O Cuiv and the Cape Clear ferry controversy(pdf file) - Rathlin is part of the 33 member Irish Islands Federation.

As this process has involved several ministerial departments presumably the full Executive, under the terms of the Ministerial Code, will have given the project its full blessing.

*Apparently the new Rathlin-Ballycastle interconnector is being officially switched on at 1pm tomorrow, according to my source in McCuaig's Bar. Could it coincide with another event? ;)

My attention has been drawn to the new operator's 'correction' to the flyer distributed by the binmen. It seems that a second correction will be required as the timetable and the number of crossings don't, er, coincide. Who are the cowboys and cowgirls down at the DRD who are 'managing' this smooth transition? Click images if you dare to look :)

Jim Allister MEP: Freeze Rathlin ferry handover

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Did I just say second correction? The replacement for the troubled MV True Light has been added to the muddled website; it's the MV Ossian of Staffa from Iona. There has been a direct substitution of name on the timetable and a failure to note that this is a, er, slower boat. It does 14 knots and carries 65 passengers but these may be reduced for the Category D(?) waters of Rathlin Sound. Conor Murphy's anticipated 20 minute crossing will now be a more leisurely 30 minute plus.

The blunder is unlikely to have been made by Mr O'Driscoll as he was spotted on Cape Clear today by one of the 'hostile' natives. Perhaps he was explaining to his guests the trials and tribulations of ferry ownership. Might these guests have been there to sort out a little problem of a lapsed certificate for the recently impounded Naomh Ciaran 2 or could they be linked to tomorrow's special event on Rathlin Island. No doubt all will become clear - eventually.

Has someone from the DRD or DFP been deliberately feeding Minister Murphy duff information? The listed information from the successful tenderer should have been included in the, er, tender documents to be scored - not 'finalised' now. That said such relevant information might have been hard to come by considering the fact that the MV True Light didn't pass MCA muster. Should the MV True Light/O'Driscoll tender even have made it as far as the scoring process? Presumably the report from the NIAO will indicate whether or not the DFP and DRD ministries are fit for purpose. I should imagine that CalMac's lawyers are keeping a close watch on developments.

The documents creating great interest are: Schedule A, Schedule B and Schedule C.

Discussion on Slugger O'Toole - search word 'rathlin'.

Murphy's Law: "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way"

Just keep on digging - the photos