Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Isle of Arran, Clyde

#ferry- In a row between a Scottish shipyard and operator over claims that "significant design changes" to CalMac's delayed new Arran ferry today (Friday, 7 Dec.) has escalated to legal action, reports The Scotsman. 

Port Glasgow shipbuilders Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited (Fmel) announced it planned to make a claim against Scottish Government-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal) - which owns CalMac's ferries - over the £97 million contract for the as previously Afloat.ie covered Glen Sannox and a sister vessel.

It said a claim would be lodged "within weeks" over the project to build the ferries which will be able to run on liquid natural gas or diesel.

Fmel has blamed the changes and the newness of the technology involved for delays to the Glen Sannox, which could now enter service on the main Arran route (see piece) a year late.

It may not now carry passengers until next autumn.

For further comments from both Fmel and Cmal, click here. 

 

Published in Ferry

#Redevelopment - Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) the Scottish Government funded publically owned ferry network, which was awarded an EU tendering process to continue running Clyde and Western Isles services, is involved in redeveloping a ferryport, writes Jehan Ashmore.

On one of CalMac's Forth of Clyde routes, Ardrossan-Brodick, Isle of Arran, is where construction is underway at a ferryport. The redevelopment is the construction of a new double-berth and ferry terminal in Brodick which is progressing at the island’s main town on the east coast. On a related note the Irish port of Wicklow is connected in the terminal project, through a regular caller (click report here)

The ferry to Arran, is the most southerly of the Scottish Western Isles services, though a summer-only mainland connection also links Ardrossan, in Ayrshire and Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre, Argyle.

As part of the overall redevelopment at Brodick Ferry Terminal a Passenger Access System (PAS) is scheduled to be commissioned in summer 2017 before the new facility is completed and handed over to CalMac Ferries Ltd in August 2017.

In a further boost of confidence for the route and notably to serve the islanders and tourists alike, is the addition of new tonnage which is also to arrive from Spring 2018.

A pair of 100m long newbuild ferries, each with a 1,000 passenger capacity and 127 cars/16 HGV's (or combination) are on order for construction to Fergusan Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) on the Clyde.

The £97m contract is from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) which owns the 31 strong fleet, as well to properties at piers and harbours at more than 26 locations throughout Scotland.

The newbuilds are earmarked for the Ardrossan-Brodick and the Uig Triangle routes. A final decision, however on deployment rests with the ferry operator and will be informed by further analysis of demand on all major routes.

The more environmentally friendly newbuilds are to be ‘dual-fuel’ powered through use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel.

Published in Ferry

Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat

For the first time in sailing's Olympic history, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the slate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat will join kiteboarding, windsurfing, multihulls, singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies and skiffs, promoting the diversity of the sport. This, in turn, will support World Sailing's desire to promote and grow universality in all disciplines and increase female participation with gender-equal medals and athletes.

Offshore sailing is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, discipline, navigation and critical decision making.

Embracing a major part of sailing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will enable new stars of the sport to come to the forefront.

Qualification

Offshore sailing is a universal discipline that every World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA) can participate in.

Up to 20 nations will be on the start line at Paris 2024 and sailors from every continent will be represented. To qualify for the Olympic Games, continental qualification events will be held and competition for a spot will be hotly contested.

Equipment

For qualification events, World Sailing will approve a list of one-design boats that are already regionally available and can be accessed as a charter boat. Boats will be equalised to ensure fair competition.

For Paris 2024, World Sailing's Council will select a list of different Equipment it considers to meet the key criteria by 31 December 2020 and then make a decision on the Equipment, selecting from the list, no later than 31 December 2023.

MNAs, Class Associations and Manufacturers have all been invited to propose Equipment for the list and a World Sailing Working Party will evaluate each proposal. A recommended list will be presented to Council for approval in November 2020.

This recommended Equipment list will ensure that event organisers, MNAs and the sailors have opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It will also ensure each MNA has a fair opportunity to prepare for qualification events and eventually, Paris 2024.

Format

Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Offshore event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the French coastline and whoever crosses the finish line first will be declared Olympic champion.

The race course and length will be announced in the lead up to the start so the competition can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Current options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.

Safety and Security

The French Navy and Mediterranean forces have extensive experience of supporting major oceanic sailing races. They will provide safety and security at Paris 2024.