The answers Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jamie McGrigor received to questions about a ferry service were not a comparison between Western Ferries and the Argyll Ferries but between the Rothesay-Wemyss Bay service operated by CalMac and that provided by Argyll Ferries ("£50,000 research on ferry is 'wasted'", The Herald, November 5).
A comparison between Western Ferries and Argyll Ferries, whose tracks cross at the mid-point of their respective crossings, would show a marked difference in cancellations due to weather. Argyll Ferries cancelled more times in their first three months of operation than the previous Cal Mac service, using the Streakers, Saturn and Juno, did in the last three years they were on the route.
The Deloitte Touche report concluded that an unrestricted service on the Gourock to Dunoon town centre route with a subsidy only on the passenger element would be profitable and would reduce the amount of subsidy required. The service has required an increase in subsidy over the estimate due to the loss of passengers carried, reportedly around 130,000 annually.
Alex Neil, the former Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, stated that one of the Argyll Ferry boats, the AliCat ,was "not fit for purpose". But the other, the Argyll Flyer, accounts for 40% of the cancelled sailings so is only marginally better, despite being larger and heavier. Both vessels are a fraction of the tonnage of the boats in the Western Ferry fleet, which is why it can provide a much more reliable service but has no connection with the rail head for commuters to Inverclyde and Glasgow.
If a vehicle service was provided which was unrestricted in both frequency and ticketing (that is, using the Western Ferry model where tickets are without time restriction or restricted to an identifiable car as was the case with the old CalMac service) then both CalMac and Western Ferries suggested to the Deloite Touch report that the service would be profitable. At that time the report included the cost of the provision of a ro-ro suitable linkspan and breakwater which is no longer the case as they are already installed.
For a reliable service to operate vessels of a certain tonnage and size are required. If vessels of this size were to carry passengers only an increase in subsidy would be required. It makes economical sense to carry unsubsidised vehicles to offset the cost of running these larger ferries and, if Deloite Touche, Cal Mac and Western Ferries were correct at that time, would be profitable.
Kenneth D M Barr,
11 Dixon Avenue, Kirn, Dunoon.
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