Hans J Marter

30 June, 2008

THE SHETLAND transport partnership ZetTrans is “disappointed” with the results of the Scottish Parliament’s inquiry into the country’s ferry services.

The parliament's transport committee yesterday (Friday) published its 'Ferry Services in Scotland' report, following their investigations which brought them to Shetland in late April.

ZetTrans had hoped the report would indicate how new inter island ferries and terminals would be paid for.

In their report, published on the parliament's website - www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/ticc/reports-08/trr08-04.htm - the committee urged the government to come up with a strategy to deliver a modern, efficient and responsive ferries network.

Committee convener Patrick Harvie MSP said: "We are calling for a national ferries strategy which will deliver a network of routes that fully meets the needs and aspirations of the communities that rely on them and promotes the long-term sustainability of these communities.

"We believe the Scottish Government's forthcoming ferries review presents a genuine opportunity to deliver this strategy and to secure the long-term future of a ferry network which is fit for purpose in the 21st century."

ZetTrans network development manager Ken Duerden, who gave evidence to the committee’s hearing in Lerwick Town Hall, said he wanted to acknowledge that the committee had come up to Shetland and spent time listening to ferry users.

But he added: "Whilst the committee recognises the need to replace the infrastructure, particularly ferries and the terminals, it is disappointing that there is no recommendation on how this should be funded.

"We struggle to see how the council here could fund this on their own and we can't see how we can tap in to other funding streams. It would have been nice had there been some comment on that."

The transport partnership calculates that replacing inter island ferries and terminals would cost in the region of £250 million over the next 30 years.

ZetTrans is also investigating whether it would be more financially viable to build fixed links to connect a number of islands to the Shetland mainland.

Mr Duerden welcomed the committee’s comments on the government’s Road Equivalent Tariff pilot scheme which they said had been introduced with very little consultation.

He added that the government's own ferry review, expected to kick off later this year, had to make rapid progress if it was to have any meaningful input into the tendering process for the northern isles service.

The present NorthLink contract is due for renewal in 2012 with the tendering process expected to get under way at some stage next year.

The committee made the following recommendations for the government's review:

• examining innovative proposals such as faster and more fuel efficient vessels, significantly improved timetables, new routes, and the use of fixed links;
• replacing and upgrading ferry vessels and ports infrastructure;
• making it easier for ferry operators to make changes to services within their contracts, if they are designed to promote improved services and facilitate innovation;
• transferring responsibility for the strategic direction of ferry services to Transport Scotland;
• conducting a full public consultation as part of the review, and taking the review forward as a matter of urgency.

Short-term, the committee would like the following areas attended to:

• adjusting timetables and frequency of sailings to better meet the needs of ferry users;
• improving communication and co-ordination between ferry, train and bus operators;
• promoting more effective consultation of ferry users by operators;
• improving accessibility of ferries and landing areas for disabled people;
• improving ferry operators' standards of customer service.

The report was welcomed by a number of politicians yesterday. Committee member and SNP Highlands and Islands MSP Rob Gibson said ferry services had to meet the needs of the users.

"I am confident the report has put the needs of ferry users first and stated plainly that a strategy has to be drawn up independent of ferry operators.

"Meeting the needs of island and remote communities requires them to have routes, vessels and timetables that fit their needs," he said.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart said: "One of the most important things for me is to look at a shake up of the way our ferry services co-ordinate with other transport providers.

"For many Highlands and Islands communities ferries are a life line service which is a key ingredient in tourism, economy and hopefully the recommendations will provide the basis of a much more dynamic service in the future and a better service for users in the Highlands and Islands."

The transport and infrastructure committee's report also acknowledges the importance of the current European Commission investigation into complaints about subsidies paid by the Scottish Government to CalMac and NorthLink.

Mr Harvie said: "The committee recognises that there is an ongoing EC investigation and we await the outcome with interest.

"This exercise should provide clarity with regard to the legal position on this issue and will help inform the mechanisms by which ferry services will be delivered in the future.

"However, we are of the view that none of our recommendations are dependent on the outcome of the investigation and that they can and should be taken forward now."