Latest news with #ferryoperator
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Start of new inter-island Channel Islands ferry service postponed
A new inter-island ferry service which had been due to start on Friday morning has been postponed.A spokesperson for the ferry operator Islands Unlimited said it had "no choice but to delay" after it had "experienced delays to our operational readiness".Difficulties trialling the vessel this week had meant it had not been able to complete "operational preparations" in time for Friday, the company said. The spokesperson said the 316-passenger, high-speed catamaran San Pawl would begin its daily inter-island foot passenger service between Guernsey and Jersey on 5 June. 'Deep regret' It's statement said: "Regrettably, due to the weather earlier this week, we have only been able to trial the ship in Jersey today and had hoped that all of our operational preparations would have been completed in time for tomorrow. "Unfortunately, this is not the case and we have to delay our commencement date."The company said the delays "had impacted our ability to complete our obligations as required by the relevant authorities". It added: "We deeply regret to find ourselves in this situation and for the inconvenience this may cause."All customers affected were being contacted by email, the company said.
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Shields ferry skipper shows trainee son ropes
A new recruit on the Shields Ferry is proving to be a chip off the old block by following in his father's Beck joined the passenger ferry which links North and South Shields across the River Tyne as second mate and is in training to pass the maritime equivalent of a driving testAmong those showing him the ropes is his father - also Stephen - who has 30 years of experience as the craft's 23-year-old said it was great to be able to tap into all that knowledge. Mr Beck Sr, 61 and from Gateshead, said: "The ferries must be in the blood, because he really has the knack of driving them. "He's a chip off the old block."I've been showing him the ropes, as I do with all our new recruits, and it does seem like he's got this natural ability for the job. "It's brilliant that the ferry-driving baton is being passed from father to son in our family." 'Bit daunting' Mr Beck Jr, also from Gateshead, added: "Part of the appeal of the job was a chance to work with my dad. "He has huge experience and knowledge of the ferry - it's great that I've been able to tap into that."He's not too much of a taskmaster...I'd say firm but fair so far, he's not had to tell me off for anything just yet."He added: "It was a bit daunting at first, getting behind the controls of the ferry with your dad at your shoulder giving the lesson."It's a bit like learning to drive a car, once you get the hang of it you're absolutely fine." Operator Nexus said it was the first time it had such a family connection and it was heartwarming to see how proud they were to work together. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CalMac directly awarded new ferry service contract
The contract to run Scotland's west coast ferry services in future has been directly awarded to the existing publicly-owned operator CalMac Ferries Ltd. The Scottish government said the service would now be focused on a "public service model" instead of being run on a commercial basis. The contract for the Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Service (CHFS) had been due to expire last September but was extended by a year. Ministers had indicated that a direct award was their preference, but they needed more time to ensure this could be done without a legal challenge. CalMac is the UK's biggest ferry operator and has held the most recent contract to run Scotland's west coast routes since 2016, serving 50 destinations. But the firm has struggled in recent years to maintain services with an ageing and increasingly unreliable fleet. Since 2007 the ships and some of the harbours it relies on have been owned by a separate government-owned company, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd or CMAL in a move designed to comply with EU competition rules. Delays in replacing the older vessels, in part due to the problems with two new dual-fuel ferries ordered a decade ago, have stretched the service almost to breaking point, with many vessels beyond their expected service life. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
