Ferry transport services

Tender description

This requirement is for the provision of a Gravesend to Tilbury foot passenger ferry service promoted by Kent County Council and Thurrock Council which will connect Kent with Essex, providing links for education, social and employment purposes. This ferry service has a history dating back to the 13th century. The ferry operator is required to provide a suitable vessel including appropriately licensed skippers and crew and implement a routine of regular inspection of the vessel associated machinery/equipment to facilitate a safe reliable operation, with minimum down-time. Tenderers should consult the Forms for Completion and Service Specification and Instructions to Tenderers document for further information. On average around 400 daily passenger journeys are made equating to 120 000 journeys each year. It is essential that the vessel, including any contingency vessel is suitable for use on this particular route and can maintain the schedule in normal operating conditions and in compliance with all applicable merchant shipping legislation, codes and guidance as applied by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and any other relevant regulatory bodies including the Port of London Authority. This contract is to be established as a ‘revenue guarantee’ contract with all passenger revenue taken by the ferry operator being returned to the Council through an established mechanism.