Historical mistake
Sir,
I write in response to Mr Duncan Dowie’s letter in the Arran Banner’s November 17 issue on the matter of ‘monohull vs catamaran’.
Mr Dowie appears to make the same mistake the Scottish government and its ferry procurement agencies have historically made in confusing ‘high-speed’ ferries with ‘medium-speed’ ferries.
High-speed ferries offering speeds above 30 knots, no matter whether monohull or catamaran, come under a different IMO Code than medium-speed ferries, the latter offering speeds typically below 20 knots.
In addition to regulatory differences, medium-speed ferries, again irrespective of whether monohull or catamaran, are different from high-speed vessels in a number of respects. For example, the hull/hulls tend to be made of steel rather than lighter aluminium, has considerably lower power requirement and a much lower build and operating cost.
Medium-speed catamarans operated by Pentland Ferries have proven their reliability and superior competitiveness against a state-subsidised monohull on the Pentland Firth route for the past 15 years, whilst also providing for a more frequent service. A major operating advantage of the catamaran is its lower windage, reduced draft and superior maneuverability in confined harbour spaces thanks to wide hull spacing and four props rather than two on monohulls.
My research over the past 30 years and more, including on behalf of ferry operators, confirms medium-speed catamarans can be acquired for around one third the price of CMAL’s in-house specified monohulls. Catamarans also provide for less than half the annual operating cost due to reduced depreciation, crew, fuel, maintenance and insurance costs. A further advantage is that proven designs of medium-speed catamarans are built faster than CMAL’s in-house specified monohulls.
CalMac’s charter of the MV Alfred proves that a 100-car capacity catamaran ferry costing around £15 million can readily do the job of a CMAL monohull costing £50 million or more. The Scottish government’s continued waste of limited public resources on far more expensive CMAL monohulls and costlier piers is therefore clearly unnecessary and does a great disservice to our island communities, with too many lacking modern reliable and frequent ferry services as a result.
Yours,
Professor Alfred J Baird,
Orkney Isles.
Community control
Sir,
Mr Dowie’s letter in the November 17 Banner on the catamaran versus monohull debate deserves comment.
It is true monohulls predominate among UK ferry fleets. However, whereas the UK was once a pre-eminent and innovative maritime power, this is far from the case today with a deep conservatism tending to prevail in terms of vessel design and operating practice.
There are exceptions. Without a penny of public money, Pentland Ferries, whose medium-speed catamarans MV Pentalina and MV Alfred have demonstrated a vastly superior efficiency over heavily subsidised monohull competition, now attract the majority of traffic on the Pentland Firth, summer and winter.
These ships are significantly cheaper to build and operate, have lower fuel consumption per car space and operate with less than half the crew of a typical CalMac “major” ferry but, importantly, are consistently recorded as sailing in bad weather when the competing monohulls are stormbound.
While, among the 10 all-year vehicle ferry providers plying in Scottish waters, there are examples of best practice, the abysmal productivity of the CMAL/CalMac system must rank it among the worst value for money globally. It’s time for a thorough rethink in which catamarans, debundling of tenders and more community control must have a place.
Yours,
Roy Pedersen,
Inverness.
Ode to ferry deal
Sir,
Fiona H says ‘no need to’ alter
CalMac, CMAL will not falter
RD, didn’t fancy the imposition
Of dealing with any competition
Said he with a wan smile
‘We do our best for the Western Isles’
I know the customers think it’s a joke
‘Cos’ the old boats are often broke
You really have nothing to fear
‘Cos’ new vessels arrive next year
Mind, the weather might still, be a pain
‘Cos’ the RMT will not work in the rain
They prefer to work out in their new gym
Keeps them fit, smart and thin
We’ve signed on an engineering Turk
To help us make the engine work
So that’s your lot for another spell,
You moaning lot, can go to hell
I’m on the list for an OBE
For ‘service to the community’
Yours,
John Lamont,
Dippen.