More queries on ferry launch
THE new operator of the Rathlin Island ferry has said that his first few days running the service have been "plain sailing".
On Tuesday the contract for the service transferred to Cork businessman Ciaran O’Driscoll after 12 years of operation by Scottish ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) — despite the 4 million contract being the subject of an Audit Office probe.
The route receives about 660,000 of taxpayers’ money each year through the Department of Regional Development (DRD).
Mr O’Driscoll was initially meant to take over the service on June 1. However, the News Letter understands that the lease for the MV Canna — the ferry which was used by CalMac on the route until Monday — was only signed hours before Mr O’Driscoll took over.
Last week issues surrounding the ferry service contract were raised at the Assembly’s Regional Development Committee, with SDLP Assemblyman John Dallat tabling a series of written questions on the ferry contract to Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy.
Writing last Tuesday in response to Mr Dallat’s questions, Mr Murphy said that at that time Mr O’Driscoll was still “finalising” his ticketing system, safety management documentation and an environmental plan.
A copy of the tender scoring documents obtained by the News Letter shows that boxes for “ticketing and information”, “safety of operations” and “environmental considerations” were all ticked prior to the contract being awarded in April.
And different answers to the ones provided to four of Mr Dallat’s questions were placed in the official Assembly Hansard on Monday.
When asked about the Hansard record, DRD said it had been an “administrative error” which has subsequently been corrected.
MEP Jim Allister, who asked the Audit Office to investigate the tendering process, vowed that he would continue probing the deal and said the transfer to Mr O’Driscoll was “premature”.
“I am in the process of raising further questions with DRD as to how O’Driscoll’s tender satisfied essential requirements under the terms of reference of the tender. I intend to see this process through to its conclusion,” he said.
On the island, opinion has been divided about the new service, but many people have welcomed the addition of a second boat on the route — the passenger-only MV Ossian of Staffa.
Mr O’Driscoll’s son David, who is involved in designing a new alloy passenger catamaran for use on the route from next summer, said work on the boat was already underway in Glasgow.
He said: “This vessel is designed to comply with all relevant EU and MCA regulations for year-round operation. At 17.8m x 6.5m a total complement of 100 will be easily accommodated.
“Twin turbocharged diesel engines will power the vessel to a fully-loaded service speed in excess of 17 knots, enabling the journey to be comfortably completed in under 25 minutes.”
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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