NEWS BULLETIN - January 2008

It was reported this week that an Irish consortium, led by businessman James Campbell, has said it has found a suitable vessel in Scandinavia and is pressing ahead with plans to reinstate the link this spring. There is speculation in the shipping world that the ship could be either the 1980 built ROSELLA of Viking Line or the 1981 built CHRISTIAN IV of Color Line.

The news has been welcomed by tourism leaders in Swansea.

"It is very good news that positive moves are being made to re-establish the route," said Tourism Swansea Bay vice-chairman Geoff Haden.

Cork councillor Michael Courtney has said that talks about the new service are at an advanced stage, and he is confident the service will be resumed in time to meet the summer tourist demand.

It is believed the Port of Cork will offer some financial incentives to a new service provider, which may include reduced fees for a limited period.

Meanwhile, Mr Haden has called on Swansea to do more to tap into the tourism potential of the new service.

"It would very clearly have a positive effect on the economy of Southern Ireland," he said.

"If it can be reinstated, I would like to see Swansea making a bigger effort to capitalise on the potential it offers.

An influential shipping expert has added his support for a North Devon ferry service from Ilfracombe to South Wales after saying it was "inevitable."

Professor Alf Baird, head of the Maritime Research Group at Edinburgh's Napier University, has joined other leading British academics to back proposals for a multi-million pound 45-minute fast catamaran service to Swansea.

Supporters have also been given the thumbs up by leading Welsh academic Professor Brian Morgan, who undertook a detailed analysis of the financial and business plans and said they were "very robust."

Momentum for the twin commercial link between North Devon and South Wales plus Penarth to Minehead have been spurred on after a business plan, plus all the facts and figures were set before top experts - and not found wanting.

"The routes are inevitable!" said Professor Baird.

"Many historic ferry routes are being re-started due to rising road transport costs and worsening congestion, aided by ongoing technological advances in ferry design."

Organisers behind the scheme have produced hard data to support the project, looking at target populations and the number of passengers already using ferry services in other parts of the UK and around the world.

Chris Marrow, who is leading the project, said it was a definite milestone and although there had been a great deal of market research in the past, this was the first time the data had been properly analysed to produce hard figures.

"Our business plan is now being finalised," he added.

"A company has already been formed, the financing of the first vessel is being actively discussed with the banks and equity partners are being sought.

"The experts have endorsed the principle, verified the calculations and said the business plan is robust, so this puts us in a very strong position in terms of getting funding and means we will be taken that much more seriously by potential investors."

The potential of the service has clearly impressed. Mr Marrow gave one Scottish route as an example of how well used ferries could be:

"On the three main routes crossing the Clyde, you have got three-and-a-half million passengers per year," he said.

"When you add the target population of that area together, it is actually lower than that of South Wales, Devon and Somerset."

Although not so unrealistic as to suggest such figures were achievable in the foreseeable future, over "an extended period" of several years Mr Marrow said he thought the new Bristol Channel service could still see in the region of one million people climbing aboard.

Potential investors, equity partners or anyone with an interest can contact Chris Marrow at themariner2008-ferryproject@yahoo.co.uk.

The above report appeared in the North Devon Gazette, however, despite the apparent enthusiasm shown by various parties for the proposals one wonders just how wise it will be to deploy a high speed catamaran on what would be very exposed routes.

FALMOUTH HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS

Giant cruise liners could bring thousands of extra visitors to the West Country.

Marine experts in Falmouth have confirmed that the port on the South Cornwall coast could be dredged to take the new range of liners.

In the thriving world of cruise ships, the latest models can take more than 4,300 passengers.

The massive influx of visitors to the popular seaside resort would bring huge financial benefits throughout the community.

An assessment is being carried out to establish the environmental impact of the dredging. Results are due in May.

Marine consultants Royal Haskoning said the channel design would be suitable for the world's biggest cruise ships. The future could see 340-metre (1,115ft) vessels docking in Falmouth harbour.

Environmental groups have expressed concern, however, at the effect the project could have on wildlife in the area.

Falmouth Harbour Commissioner Captain Mark Sansom said he was pleased with the progress being made on the port's environmental impact assessment report.

"The Falmouth Harbour Commissioners have commitment and responsibility for the economic wellbeing of the port and believe this project will help secure a sustainable future for the port and local businesses as well as further afield in Cornwall. I'm delighted that we are moving closer towards our ambition becoming a reality."

A spokesman for Royal Haskoning said: "The design of the channel has also been reviewed to ensure that the channel will be safe to navigate yet minimises the amount of dredging required.

Bob Harrison, director of cruise marketing organisation Destination South West, said: "Cruise ship visitors spend a lot of money at places they visit and when they visit somewhere they like, they tend to return to the area for a longer visit at a later date.

"We should also not forget that the crew come ashore and spend money and you should never underestimate the effect they have on talking up a shore visit to passengers. In Falmouth, stores such as Marks & Spencer put on extra staff when there's a ship due in.

The £410,000 impact assessment project is being jointly funded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the Objective One Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

[WESTERN MORNING NEWS]

LEAVESLEY INTERNATIONAL

Public notices were published in the Merseyside press this week by Peel Ports seeking planning permission to operate a ship recycling facility at Canada Dock, Liverpool. The granting of permission will enable Leavesley International, a UK based group, to establish a ship recycling facility at Canada Dry Dock.

It is anticipated that subject to the granting of the necessary permission, the first ship to be recycled will be the assault landing ship HMS INTREPID. The company anticipates that it can recycle two ships per year at the Canada Dock site.

NORCAPE will replace the GLOBAL FREIGHTER on Liverpool - Dublin until she in turn is replaced by the TOR MAXIMA in mid-March.

At which point the NORCAPE replaces the EUROPEAN MARINER on Larne - Troon. The EUROPEAN MARINER's future hasn't been announced but she is not expected to be sold.

SWANSEA - CORK FERRIES

The Irish Examiner reported this week that talks on the possibility of reactivating the Swansea-Cork ferry service are said to be at a critical stage.

A West Cork-based businessman, who is originally from Kerry, and other stakeholders have held several meetings in recent weeks and are looking at sourcing funding.

Captain Michael McCarthy, the Port of Cork’s marketing manager, said yesterday talks were at a "delicate stage".

Capt McCarthy said that he was doing all in his power to get the link reinstated.

A decision on whether to go ahead with the project will have to be made shortly, otherwise it will be extremely difficult to market in Britain for the summer season. The loss of the ferry link cost the south-west region €35 million in lost tourism revenue last year.

Two potential vessels have been identified, costing €20m each. It is expected that the Port of Cork will offer some financial incentives.

These are likely to include reduced fees for a period. There have also been calls from Cork Business Association for Cork City Council and Cork County Council to offer financial assistance.

However, several county councillors have said the county council wouldn’t be able to help and have insisted the Government should intervene.

FINNFOREST - SSG-GÖTEBORG. Strömma Turism & Sjöfart AB, Stockholm is reported to have sold the 15,525grt ro/ro vessel to Celtic Link for US$10.9 million. The vessel was built at Hyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea, in 1978.  The vessel is currently operating on Finnlines' Helsinki - Gdynia route and, according to their schedules, will remain on this route until the end of January at least.