Water transport services

Tender description

Provision of Public services in relation to ferry services to or from harbours located at Gourock Town Centre and Dunoon Town Centre. The services shall comprise, 2 vessels to deliver the ferry services. Details will be set out in a detailed vessel specification to be included in the Invitation to Tender. Further information on Transport Scotland can be accessed through the Transport Scotland website at: www.transportscotland.gov.uk The Scottish Ministers intend to execute a new contract for the provision of the ferry services in relation to the operation of passenger services between Gourock and Dunoon. This will replace the existing public services contract which expires on 29.6.2017. The contract will require a start-up period prior to operation of replacement services on 30.6.2017. The ferry services will then continue until the end of June 2029 (an operational period of 12 years). The principal service: A subsidy for the Gourock Dunoon Town Centre Ferry Service for foot passengers. Vessels: The services shall comprise, the provision and operation of 2 vessels (minimum length 40 metres) to deliver the ferry services. It is expected that the Vessel will be optimised with a not less than 15 knot service speed @85 % MCR. Vessels should also be able to operate at lower or higher speeds safely and efficiently. Acceptable fuel types will be Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and options for Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). Full vessel specification details will be set out in the Invitation to Tender. The existing vessels, currently owned by David MacBrayne Group Ltd and leased to Argyll Ferries Ltd, can be made available to be used to provide ferry services during any interim period from the commencement of the ferry services until the 2 vessels which meet the required specification can be provided. The existing vessels shall be made available on equal commercial terms to participants under a Bareboat Charterparty arrangement. Alternatively, Participants may make their own arrangements for the provision of interim vessels to provide the ferry services until vessels are available to meet the required specification. Vessels to meet the required vessel specification should be in operation no later than two years from commencement of the contract. Optional additional services — Vehicle-carrying service: Participants may include a vehicle carrying service as part of their tender submission. Such proposals must be demonstrated to be unsubsidised and shall be at the own commercial risk of the participant. In such an event, separate financial controls and reporting arrangements will require to be implemented to satisfy European Commission State Aid requirements that there is no cross-subsidisation between the public service contract for the provision of the subsidised passenger Ferry Services and any unsubsidised vehicle-carrying service or portion thereof undertaken by the successful participant at their own commercial risk. Details of the reporting arrangements will be issued in the Invitation to tender. Possible additional services — Additional routes: The Scottish Ministers are in talks with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport about the potential transfer to The Scottish Ministers of responsibility for further services currently supported by the Partnership to other destinations from the harbours at Gourock and Dunoon. Future provision may be incorporated into the Contract to include such routes.