Official opening for Sconser Ferry Terminal, Isle of Skye
Pupils from Raasay Primary School were guests of honour at today’s opening of the new £2 million ferry terminal at Sconser, which is the Skye base for ferry sailings to their island.
A bonus was the opportunity to inspect the new hybrid ferry, MV Hallaig, which will soon be introduced on the service.
The works at Sconser were carried out by the Contractor, McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd under the supervision of The Highland Council. The existing slipway was remodelled to accommodate the new ferry vessel. As well as lengthening and widening the slipway, a new car park, marshalling area and waiting-room with toilets have been constructed.
The opening of the terminal at Sconser completes the work on the Sconser to Raasay route and complements the £12 million terminal constructed at Churchton Bay, Isle of Raasay, completed in 2010.
The project was part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Councillor Graham Phillips, Chairman of the Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee, presided over the ceremony. He is delighted at the latest investment in Skye.
He said: “This is a much-needed project, which will significantly ease parking congestion at Sconser and the risk of overflow parking on the busy trunk road to Portree by doubling the parking capacity. It is a real bonus that we have attracted funding from the European Regional Development Fund. Coming of top of the Raasay ferry terminal opening, this is another boost for the Skye community.”
Martin Dorchester, Managing Director of CalMac, which operates ferry services between Sconser and Raasay, said: “We are looking forward to the introduction of the first hybrid ferry on this route and are grateful for the support of Highland Council in upgrading Sconser pier to accommodate the new ship. Good pier infrastructure is, of course, vital to a successful ferry service, but even more important for the hybrids which require specialised connections with shore electricity supplies to function properly. This work, along with the work completed in Raasay a few years ago, means this route can boast some of the most modern pier facilities anywhere in our network.”