Corran Ferry feasibility and design stage underway following Highland Council funding of £1.6m
Lochaber Area Committee met today (Monday 9 August 2021) and were presented with an outline business case update prepared by the Council’s Corran Ferry Project Team.
The Corran Ferry project was established to review the options for securing replacement ferry vessels and for considering the preferred way forward for the future operation and management of the Corran Service.
Council approved the funding of £1.6M (Highland Council 24 June 21) to enable the project to commence work on the feasibility and preliminary design of 2 new vessels (in conjunction with Transport Scotland /CMAL’s SVRP); and 2 new slipways and supporting infrastructure.
CMAL has recently appointed a naval architect and the SVRP is currently on course to move to procurement of the first tranche of vessels in the next 12 months, subject to the completion and approval of an outline business case.
The Council’s Project Design Unit is currently progressing a public service contract through the Scotland Excel framework to procure an external source to commence feasibility and preliminary design work for the Corran Ferry slipways / infrastructure.
Chair of Lochaber Area Committee, Cllr Andrew Baxter said: “The Highland Council approved £1.6m funding to the Corran Ferry project to allow feasibility and preliminary design work to commence on two new vessels and slipways; this is a significant milestone and demonstrates a positive commitment to residents, businesses and visitors. Despite the challenges faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the project has made good progress and the project team, council officers and partners should be commended for their contribution in propelling the project in a positive direction.”
Lochaber Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of HITRANS said: “Today the Lochaber Area Committee was presented with a detailed and comprehensive report of the Corran Ferry Project.On the 24 June 2021, The Highland Council approved funding of £1.6m to enable the project to commence work on the feasibility and preliminary design of two new vessels and two new slipways and supporting infrastructure. Synergies between Corran ferry Project and Transport Scotland Scotland’s Small Vessels Replacement Programme (SVRP) are being explored, with consideration to what Transport Scotland can do to maximise support in kind to the project.
“The report presented to the Committee outlines the duty of care; The Highland Council has to run a safe, reliable and sustainable ferry.The Corran Ferry is the busiest single vessel route in Scotland, providing a lifeline service to the remote communities of Ardnamurchan, Morvern and Mull. The current service, operated with an ageing vessel and limited crew numbers, is no longer sustainable. Today’s report highlights a cohesive and collaborative approach being taken forward that should ensure new ferries and infrastructure can be delivered in a cost effective, innovative and environmentally focused way.”
A link to the Committee Report which includes appendixes is available here