Europe To Fund Island Ferries Project

European Union (EU) funding of more than £233,000 has been awarded to the Small Ferries Project.

The aim of this partnership project between Ireland, north and south, and Scotland is to deliver a common procurement and design strategy, which could be used by each of the partners to provide new small ferry vessels to serve routes off the Irish and Scottish coasts.

Welcoming the EU funding, Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy said: “Joint co-operation through this partnership will bring benefits and improvements for our most remote communities. I look forward to the Small Ferries Project leading the way for further collaboration to assist the development of small islands.

“Rathlin Island is the only inhabited offshore island in the north and it is important that government continues to recognise the importance of island living.”

The Department for Regional Development has partnered with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd from Scotland and the Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs, in the south, to develop the common design and procurement strategy.

The advantages of common design and a joint procurement strategy include skills and knowledge sharing across the three partnership areas, reducing overhead costs and increasing the potential for efficiency savings through economies of scale.

Funded by the EU’s INTERREG IVA programme at least eight routes will be examined as part of the study including Ballycastle to Rathlin and various routes on the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland.

It is anticipated that the project will be completed in summer 2010.

Notes to Editors:

1. The grant of £233,750 has been made by the Special EU INTERREG IVA Programme – a Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme for NI, the Border Region and Western Scotland. The overall aim of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to: ‘Support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.’

2. The objectives of the project are to estimate the demand for ferry services within the programme area; to develop a new series of vessel designs that embrace the higher design standards needed for the effective operation of modern ferries; to develop a design that is flexible and can cater for the needs of different islands and isolated rural communities; to develop plans for the most appropriate port infrastructure; and to develop innovative methods of finance and procurement for the next generation of ferries servicing remote islands.

3. The programme area will include the following routes:

• Ballycastle to Rathlin;
• Alt an Chorrain to Leab Gharbn, Arainn Mor;
• Alt an Chorrain to Toraigh;
• Tarbert to Portavadie;
• Gigha to Tayinloan;
• Oban to Lismore;
• Tobermory to Kilchoan; and
• Sconser to Raasay.

4. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.

5. The Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs, in the south, aims to promote and support the sustainable and inclusive development of communities both urban and rural, including Gaeltacht and island communities.

6. DRD subsidises the ferry service between Ballycastle and Rathlin.

7. Media queries to the Press Office, Department for Regional Development, tel 028 90 540887. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.