Updated: 25 November 2024
Current situation
- Contractor is finalising works on the main pier including the foundations for installations required for the new vessel.
- There is no further planned disruptions to the CalMac service.
- Updates for the new vessel deployment and timetables can be found on the CMAL website and on the CalMac website.
Background
Port Askaig Harbour is being upgraded to accommodate the new, larger capacity CalMac ferries.
The Council commissioned consultants to carry out a study to determine options for the existing marshalling areas and to produce a plan that would maximise the best use of the port footprint.
Following review of consultation feedback from communities and the level of facility we currently have, we can deliver a more cost-effective solution that remains within the parameters of the provision in the Council’s Marine Asset Management Plan (MASP), without the larger scale disruption and additional cost that would have been required by that concept design.
This will consider the communities' wishes to preserve parking spaces, and we will deliver improved signage, lining, quayside traffic management and CCTV for Port Askaig in time for the new larger ferry arriving. We are now progressing that solution to enhance existing facilities.
Next steps
Our focus is on enhancing existing features so they are ready in time to welcome the new larger ferries and doing all we can as a council to support an effective ferry service for Islay and Jura.
We remain on track to deliver the more cost-effective solution within the parameters of the MASP, while addressing the concerns of the local community and delivering approximately 140% of the vessel's PCU capacity within the Port. This capacity provides contingency should ferries be delayed or vehicles arrive early. This is a higher, more ambitious level of capacity than provided in many ports across the UK.
Wider works
As noted above, the contracted works on the main quayside are approaching completion to be ready for the installations to be mounted.
The Council works will be completed following completion of CMAL’s quayside works and will consist of relining, signage, parking allocation, CCTV and traffic access control installation.
Other aspects including installation of substantial barriers in the marshalling area will not be progressed. Previous incidents in the Marshalling area involved practices which are no longer permitted in the Port area.
There should be no further disruption, and all further considerations will be looked at in the future when we see how the vessel settles into the timetable and the infrastructure.