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Features CalMac wins Northern
Isles Contract |
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Date:
09/03/06
News
Feature: CalMac Named as Preferred Bidder for Northern Isles Ferry
Contract.
Official Press Realises From CalMac & Press...
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CalMac Press Realise:
Ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne has welcomed confirmation by the
Scottish Executive that the company has today been nominated as preferred
bidder for the provision of ferry services to the Northern Isles. Caledonian
MacBrayne Chairman Director Harold Mills said "The Company is delighted that
the status of our bid has now been clarified, and we look forward to taking
the remaining discussions forward with a view to taking over the service as
scheduled by the Scottish Executive. CalMac has always believed that we
could produce a compelling bid for the services and the Company is delighted
that all our hard work has taken us to this stage. We now look forward to
completing the outstanding arrangements and we will work closely with local
communities and the Scottish Executive to achieve the aspirations set out in
our bid document" |
NorthLink Vessel Hamnavoe Departs a Wet Stromness
En-Route For Scrabster This Afternoon. |
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CALMAC NAMED AS PREFERRED BIDDER FOR NORTHERN ISLES FERRY CONTRACT
Source:
The Orcadian
Caledonian MacBrayne has been named as the preferred bidder for the ferry
services contract to Orkney and Shetland. Among the improvements announced
by Transport Minister Tavish Scott today are reduced freight tariffs (19 per
cent for Orkney) and the inclusion of livestock in the contract. Mr Scott
said: “There will now be an intense final period of contract negotiation
before the official handover. The six year contract will introduce real
benefits for local people and businesses, helping the economies of the
Northern Isles.” The handover from NorthLink is due to take place in early
summer and, according to the Scottish Executive, will be seamless. |
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CALMAC SET TO SECURE FERRY ROUTE
Source:
State-owned ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has been announced as
the preferred bidder for the service to Orkney and Shetland from the
mainland. The contract was re-advertised two years ago after current
operators NorthLink had financial problems. More than £78m in public money
was spent keeping the service afloat. The transport minister said the new
service would introduce reduced freight tariffs, a new container system for
livestock and more berths.
NorthLink, a company jointly owned by CalMac and the Royal Bank
of Scotland, is expected to handover the service to CalMac in the summer.
Under the six year contract, Orkney will see a 19% reduction in freight
tariffs, while Shetland's rates will reduce by 25%. Transport Minister
Tavish Scott said the executive was committed to providing quality ferry
services for people in the Northern Isles. He said: "Although the tendering
was a complex exercise, the new contract is financially sound and delivers
real improvements for anyone using the service. "There will now be an
intense final period of contract negotiation before the official handover."
Conservative transport spokesman David Davidson raised concerns over
state-owned CalMac being confirmed as the preferred bidder. He said: "My
concern from the start of this process - which was heightened when one of
the bidders dropped out at an early stage - has been that each bidder had
equal access to the information necessary to make a competitive bid, thereby
ensuring that the executive's own ferry operator received no preferential
treatment." He also called on the executive to ensure contract was
sufficiently robust so as to avoid a repeat of the "costly mistakes
synonymous with the original NorthLink tender". The transport minister said
officials had incorporated the findings of the independent auditor, Audit
Scotland, into the procurement exercise. The financial watchdog had been
called in to look at the executive's handling of the NorthLink ferry
contract after concerns over the amount of public money it was being given.
NorthLink took over the route from P&O in 2002, which had linked the
Northern Isles to the mainland for more than 30 years. The agreed handover
date and details of the subsidy for CalMac's contract will be provided once
discussions are concluded. Bids for the ferry route had been submitted by
V-Ships UK Ltd and CalMac. Irish Continental Ferries were also initially
short-listed. |
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