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PROPOSED FERRY LINK

the new ferry on a visit to ilfracombe

possible route the new ferry will take

MORE PROGRESS AS FERRY LINK GETS CLOSER TO REALITY

THE first Swansea to Ilfracombe ferry in the Fast Cat service's fleet has been delivered — and is already getting a lick of paint.

It is being transformed with the bright yellow Fast Cat livery and will start taking passengers from Swansea to Ilfracombe by next spring.

The as-yet-unnamed ferry was bought from Isle of Wight operator WightLink for a seven figure sum and is the first delivery in a two-vessel deal due to be completed in the new year.

Geoff Metcalf, managing director of Severn Link, which is behind the new route, said: "Completion of the purchase by Severn Link of the FastCat Shanklin from Wightlink Ferries brings closer to fruition the company's plans to run ferry services in the Bristol Channel.

"This excellent modern vessel will make a crossing from Swansea to Ilfracombe fun, fast and affordable."

It can take 360 foot passengers, can travel up to 34 knots, and is having its fast cat facelift in dry dock at Portchester, near Portsmouth.

Once that's done the ferry will come to Swansea to have its insides re-fitted ready for the first passengers who will sail the new route from March.

The entire refurbishment is expected to cost around £100,000, with most suppliers for the interior refit coming from Swansea and South Wales.

Swansea Council leader Chris Holley said: "The introduction of a fast cat service from Swansea to Ilfracombe will boost the economy and make it easier for many people to travel to South West England and beyond.

"It also means many people from the South West will have the chance to visit Swansea Bay for the first time to discover everything that's available here.

"This news shows the scheme is now a step closer to being realised and it will complement the much-anticipated return of the Swansea to Cork ferry to local waters."

Landing facilities delay Severn Link
Posted: 09/06/2010

Due to the delay in establishing landing facilities and an overnight lay-over berth in Swansea, original plans to commence services for the Severn Link Ferry in the spring of 2010 have now been postponed. 

Geoff Metcalf, Managing Director of Severn Link said, “This is bitterly disappointing but, unfortunately out of our control.  Although both ferries are up and running and have undertaken sea-trials without appropriate landing facilities we clearly cannot operate or be granted
a full licence by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)”.

Services are set to run between Ilfracombe and Swansea and, following the unprecedented level of interest, planning for further services between Cardiff / Penarth, Ilfracombe and Minehead is well underway. But no services can run until appropriate, MCA approved landing facilities and an overnight lay-over berth, which acts as the company’s official operating point, have been completed at Swansea. 

Geoff Metcalf said, “Swansea City council are working closely with Severn Link to ensure some landing facilities will be available to launch the service, although not exclusively to Severn Link, but as part of their overall development plans.  Severn Link would like to thank Swansea City Council for their ongoing support. We have been offered a temporary berth from August, but this is so late in the season, that by the time the MCA have had chance to do their final checks and we’ve run our trials from this point, we will be well into the autumn.  So, while it is possible that we may be able to run some limited trial services it is with huge regret that we will have to postpone the full launch until next year.”

Assuming that permanent facilities will be made available by early next year, it is therefore likely that both the Swansea-Ilfracombe and other routes will launch at the same time. 

Geoff continued, “We’ve had a remarkable response from the public and from businesses on both sides of the channel.  We would like to thank everyone for their enormous support and enthusiasm and assure you that we are all working as hard as we can to bring even a limited or restricted service to fruition as soon as possible.  In the meantime, we’re continuing to work with investors, local authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government to put into place the necessary inshore infrastructure at Swansea and on the other projected routes so we can run a fully comprehensive service in 2011.”

It is proposed that a ferry service between Ilfracombe and Swansea and between Minehead and Penarth is commercially viable and would be of great benefit to the communities on both sides of the Bristol Channel.

The prime demand is likely to be for car ferries, but, in the absence of the necessary infrastructure, it is proposed to commence with a passenger only service, with a view to adding a car ferry at a later date.

The initial vessel would be a high speed craft with a speed of some 35 knots and a capacity of some 250 passengers. (similar to the one pictured above)

The passage between Ilfracombe and Swansea would be under 50 minutes, and from Minehead to Penarth under half an hour.

The prime mover of the proposal is Mr Chris Marrow.

A team of former ferry managers from Scotland, a ship builder, a former ship owner and two sets of accountants have been assisting him; (not to mention two banks and a number of other interested parties).

The team is ready to operate the ferry.



Chris Marrow has had experience of pioneering new ferry routes in Scotland and in Africa and continues to support vital trade links in remote parts of Africa.

A Business Plan is being prepared and the financial calculations are at an advanced stage.

The results are very encouraging, and show that a break-even can be achieved by Year 3 on a modest and achievable load factor.

As part of the pre-feasibility, a study of bodies of water with similar geography and demography was made.

No similar stretch of water could be found that did not have an active ferry crossing.

The reasons for this were also studied and were found in the history of passenger transport in the Bristol Channel.

The plan has received the strongest possible support from the communities of North Devon and West Somerset and is perceived as a key to much needed regeneration, especially in Ilfracombe.

The project will allow for joint marketing in the two regions.

Potential customers can be expected from many different sectors:

o Tourism – on both sides of the water
o Shopping in Swansea and Cardiff
o Feeder service for the Irish ferries
o Students at Welsh and SW universities (numerous)
o Visiting friends and relatives – there are very strong family links across the water that date back many years
o Sporting links
o It has even been pointed out that the quickest route from Barnstaple to London will be by taking the ferry and catching a train in Swansea.
o Etc. The possibilities are legion.

The historic links between the two sides of the Bristol Channel remain very strong.

The road links between the two region are increasingly congested and carbon emissions by vehicles are increasingly perceived as a problem.

The service will require integration with land transport, be it by bus, rail or sail/drive.
Allowance has been made for the cost of Park ‘n Ride where required and for the subsidy of integrated bus services.

It is perceived as vital that the company should be firmly implanted in the communities on both sides of the water, and the active participation of the communities on the Welsh side is strongly welcomed.
Specialists in ferries and in marine operations in the remote regions of the world

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