FERRY operator Western Ferries (Clyde) is ramping up its commitment to its commercial vehicle and passenger ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon with a £4 million investment to upgrade the terminal infrastructure at Hunter’s Quay.
Western Ferries, one of the largest private-sector employers in the Dunoon area, will install a new 30-metre linkspan to replace the existing structure. The work, which gets under way later this month and is scheduled to be completed and fully operational by the end of 2018, will include enhancements to the berthing facilities at Hunter’s Quay and the shore-side infrastructure.
Similar to the upgrade carried out last year at McInroy’s Point in Gourock, this latest investment will “maintain and improve on the operational flexibility of Western Ferries’ services for the benefit of the 1.3 million passengers who use the service each year”. The company said that the upgraded berthing facilities will be better equipped to accommodate tidal variations and changeable weather conditions.
Gordon Ross, the ferry operator’s managing director, said: “In order to provide the most frequent and reliable service possible for the Cowal and Inverclyde communities, we are fully committed to ensuring that our infrastructure is robust and that our investment programme continues to benefit the thousands of passengers who use and rely on our services for work and leisure.”
Consultant engineer Arch Henderson will oversee delivery of the project while Ferguson’s Shipyard in Port Glasgow will fabricate and install the new linkspan. The appointments reunite the team that delivered the upgrade works at McInroy’s Point in 2017. Meanwhile, Ipswich-based Red7Marine has been appointed to deliver the shore-side infrastructure improvement works and enhancements to the berthing facilities following success in a competitive tender process.
Western Ferries said that it chose Red7Marine for the project due to the firm’s “proven track record of successfully delivering high-profile marine construction projects throughout the UK”. Red7Marine’s managing director, Kristen Branford, said: “We have an excellent track record for delivery and are looking forward to working with Western Ferries to deliver this latest phase of enhancements and we are confident that the new facilities will be completed by the end of December.”
The works have been planned to ensure minimal disruption to services throughout the construction period.
Western Ferries operates more than 32,000 sailings and carries 650,000 vehicles every year, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
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