A Modern and Sustainable Ferry Service for Scotland - A major inquiry into current and future ferry provision in Scotland

Closed 26 Aug 2022

Opened 1 Jul 2022

Contact

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

0131 348 6039

netzero.committee@parliament.scot

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

The Committee received a public petition saying the unreliability of ferries has resulted in losses to island economies relying on tourism and in travel restrictions for island residents, who need reliable and regular services.

The Committee noted there were issues with island connections beyond those covered by the petition. It agreed it needed to look at ferry services comprehensively. The Committee agreed on 15 March 2022 to undertake an inquiry into ferry services.

The Committee will consider:

What island residents, businesses, and other ferry users need from Scottish Government-supported ferry services.

The institutional and funding arrangements that would meet the needs of current and future ferry users.

What vessel size, type, deployment and crewing arrangements would best satisfy the needs identified.

Remit

During the inquiry, the Committee will engage with ferry users to discuss how services can best meet their needs. It will pursue the following objectives:

  • to engage with communities impacted by problems with ferry services and understand better the impact these have, particularly on island life (in particular, the effects of weather on services, sustainability of population and attracting inhabitants, access to key services and businesses)
  • to understand what a modern ferry service should look like from different perspectives, from island and mainland residents, individuals and businesses
  • to consider and draw attention to best practice in ferry provision and service including considering examples from private enterprise or internationally
  • to hold the Scottish Government, operators and asset holders to account and scrutinise carefully whether their decisions and strategies are in the best interests of service users and the taxpayer
  • to help inform Scottish Government’s policies and strategies on ferries and island connectivity as well as the procurement process for future vessels
  • to identify the needs and views of different groups in particular young people and disabled people
  • to adapt scrutiny to the different needs, experiences and solutions of different islands and communities
  • recognise the importance of island impact assessments carried out by relevant authorities
  • to incorporate the contribution of transport to net zero goals into scrutiny throughout the inquiry.

Key questions

To help the Committee with its inquiry, the Committee is running a Call for Views on a range of issues, including:

    1. What do island residents, businesses, and other ferry users need in the short, medium and long term from Scottish Government-supported ferry services?
    2. Are current services meeting the needs and sustainability of island and remote rural communities and businesses? This includes the provision of secure employment for those working for ferry services
    3. Are current services meeting the needs of mainland communities and businesses, including visitors?
    4. Are service needs different at different times of the year?
    5. Which needs are better met by other modes of transport, e.g. air, where available?
    6. How should the Scottish Government support council-run ferry services?
    7. How can ferry users and island communities be involved in decision making at strategic and operational level?
    1. What institutional and funding arrangements would most likely deliver service patterns, vessels, and crewing arrangements that meet the needs of current and potential future ferry users?
    2. Can the current tri-partite arrangement (Transport Scotland, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), Ferry Operator) for managing most ferry service provision be improved?
    3. Can current tendering arrangements be improved, e.g. through service unbundling?
    4. Can Scottish Government subsidies be better deployed to meet the needs of current and future ferry users?
    5. Are current services providing best value for the taxpayer?
  3. What vessel size, type, deployment and crewing arrangements would best satisfy the needs you have identified?
    1. What size and types of vessels are required?
    2. What type of sustainable propulsion systems (including energy-use and moves to low carbon systems) would meet the needs of ferry services?
    3. How can we ensure ferries are compatible with harbour facilities?
    4. What type of onboard crew accommodation is required?
    5. Current procurement criteria and processes: what are their strengths and weaknesses? Are they “future proofed” to accommodate new technologies and the need for sustainable low-carbon travel?

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. 

The call for views closes on 26 August 2022.

Seirbheis Aiseagan a tha Nuadh is Seasmhach do dh’Alba – rannsachadh mòr air solar aiseagan an an Alba aig an àm seo agus agus san àm ri teachd

Sealladh Farsaing

Fhuair a’ Chomataidh athchuinge phoblach ag ràdh gun tàinig mar thoradh air cion earbsachd aiseagan call do dh’eaconamaidh nan eilean a tha an urra ri turasachd agus bacaidhean air siubhal do mhuinntir nan eilean, aig a bheil feum air seirbheisean a tha earbsach is cunbhalach.

Thug a’ Chomataidh fa-near gun robh ceistean mu cheanglaichean ri eileanan thairis air an fheadhainn air a bheilear a-mach anns an athchuinge. Dh’aontaich i gun fheumadh i sealltainn air seirbheisean aiseagan ann an seadh coileanta. Dh’aontaich a’ Chomataidh air 15 Màrt 2022 rannsachadh a chumail mu sheirbheisean aiseag.

Gabhaidh a’ Chomataidh beachd air:

Na tha a dhìth air eileanaich, gnìomhachasan, agus luchd-cleachdaidh aiseagan eile bho sheirbheisean aiseagan ris a bheil Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ cur taic.

Na h-ullachaidhean institiuideach is maoineachaidh a riaraicheadh feumalachdan luchd-cleachdaidh nan aiseagan an-dràsta agus san àm ri teachd.

A’ mheudachd, an seòrsa, an cleachdadh soithich agus ullachaidhean a thaobh sgioba a b’ fheàrr a riaraicheadh na feumalachdan air an comharrachadh.

Raon-ùghdarrais

Ri linn an rannsachaidh, nì a’ Chomataidh ceangal ri luchd-cleachdaidh nan aiseagan gus deasbad mar as fheàrr a choileanas seirbheisean an cuid fheumalachdan. Leanaidh i na h-amasan a leanas:

  • ceangal ri coimhearsnachdan air a bheil duilgheadasan le seirbheisean nan aiseagan a’ bualadh agus a’ bhuaidh a th’ aca seo a thuigsinn nas fheàrr, gu sònraichte air beatha nan eilean (gu h-àraidh, buaidh na sìde air seirbheisean, seasmhachd an t-sluaigh agus tàladh luchd-fuirich, cothrom air seirbheisean is gnìomhachasan bunaiteach)
  • tuigse fhaighinn air a’ choltas a bu chòir a bhith air seirbheis aiseagan airson an latha an-diugh bho dhiofar sheallaidhean, bho luchd-fuirich, bho dhaoine fa leth agus bho ghnìomhachasan anns na h-eileanan agus air tìr-mòr
  • beachd a ghabhail agus aire tharraing air a’ chleachdadh as fheàrr ann an solar is seirbheis aiseagan agus eisimpleirean bho iomairt phrìobhaideach no thall thairis
  • Riaghaltas na h-Alba, luchd-obrachaidh is luchd-seilbhe a cheasnachadh agus sgrùdadh gu cùramach a bheil an cuid cho-dhùnaidhean is ro-innleachdan a chùm leas luchd-cleachdaidh sheirbheisean agus luchd-pàighidh chìsean
  • cuideachadh gus cruth a chur air poileasaidhean is ro-innleachdan Riaghaltas na h-Alba air aiseagan agus comas-ceangail eileanan a bharrachd air modh-solair shoithichean san àm ri teachd
  • feumalachdan is beachdan diofar bhuidhnean a chomharrachadh, gu sònraichte daoine òga agus daoine air a bheil ciorram
  • sgrùdadh a chuimseachadh a rèir diofar fheumalachdan, shuidheachaidhean is fhuasglaidhean diofar eileanan is choimhearsnachdan
  • cuideam measaidhean buaidhean eileanan gan dèanamh le ùghdarrasan buntainneach aithneachadh
  • an cuideachadh a bheir còmhdhail do dh’amasan cothromachadh-carboin a thoirt a-steach dhan sgrùdadh ri linn an rannsachaidh.

Ceistean bunaiteach

Gus a’ Chomataidh a chuideachadh leis an rannsachadh aice, tha a’ Chomataidh a’ cumail Gairm airson Beachdan air grunn cheistean, nam measg:

    1. Dè tha a dhìth air luchd-fuirich is luchd-gnìomhachais nan eilean agus luchd-cleachdaidh aiseagan eile san ùine ghoirid, mheadhanaich is fhada bho sheirbheisean aiseagan ris a bheil Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ cur taic ?
    2. A bheil na seirbheisean a th’ ann an-dràsta a rèir feumalachdan is seasmhachd coimhearsnachdan is gnìomhachasan anns na h-eileanan agus air an dùthaich gu h-iomallach? Tha seo a’ ghabhail a-steach solar cosnaidh thèarainte dhan fheadhainn ag obair ri seirbheisean nan
    3. A bheil na seirbheisean a th’ ann an-dràsta a’ toirt a-mach feumalachdan choimhearsnachdan is ghnìomhachasan air tìr-mòr, luchd-tadhail nam measg?
    4. A bheil feumalachdan mu sheirbheisean diofraichte aig amannan diofraichte den bhliadhna?
    5. Dè na feumalachdan as fheàrr a riaraichear le modhan eile de chòmhdhail, m. e. adhar, nuair a bhios cothrom air?
    6. Ciamar a bu chòir do Riaghaltas na h-Alba taic a chur ri seirbheisean aiseagan gan ruith le comhairlean?
    7. Ciamar a dh’fhaodas luchd-cleachdaidh nan aiseagan agus coimhearsnachdan sna h-eileanan a bhith an sàs ann an dèanamh cho-dhùnaidhean aig ìre ro-innleachdail is obrachaidh?
    1. Dè na h-ullachaidhean institiuideach is maoineachaidh as coltaiche a lìbhrigeadh pàtranan sheirbheisean, soithichean agus ullachaidhean a thaobh sgioba a choileanas feumalachdan luchd-cleachdaidh nan aiseagan an-dràsta agus math dh’fhaodte san àm ri teachd?
    2. An gabh an t-ullachadh eadar trì buidhnean a th’ ann an-dràsta (Còmhdhail Alba, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), Luchd-obrachaidh Aiseig) gus rianachd a dhèanamh air a’ chuid as motha de sheirbheisean nan aiseagan leasachadh?
    3. An gabh na h-ullachaidhean mu thairgsean an-dràsta leasachadh, m. e. tro dhì-phasgadh (unbundling) sheirbheisean?
    4. An gabh tabhartasan Riaghaltas na h-Alba cleachdadh nas fheàrr gus feumalachdan luchd-cleachdaidh nan aiseagan an-dràsta agus san àm ri teachd a riarachadh?
    5. A bheil na seirbheisean a th’ ann an-dràsta a’ toirt an luach as fheàrr do luchd-pàighidh chìsean?
  3. Dè a’ mheudachd, an seòrsa, an cleachdadh soithich agus ullachaidhean a thaobh sgioba a b’ fheàrr a riaraicheadh na feumalachdan a shònraich thu?
    1. Dè a’ mheudachd agus na seòrsaichean de shoithichean a tha a dhìth?
    2. Dè na seòrsaichean de shiostaman-gluasaid seasmhach (a’ gabhail a-steach cleachdadh lùtha agus gluasad gu siostam a tha ìseal a thaobh carboin) a bheireadh a-mach feumalachdan seirbheisean aiseagan?
    3. Ciamar a nì sinn cinnteach gu bheil aiseagan a’ freagairt air goireasan chalaidhean?
    4. Dè an seòrsa de dh’àiteachan-fuirich air bòrd a tha a dhìth air an sgioba?
    5. Slatan-tomhais is modhan-obrach mu sholar an-dràsta: dè na neartan is na laigsean a th’ aca? A bheil iad gan daingneachadh mu choinneamh na h-ùine ri teachd gus teicneòlas ùr agus am feum air siubhal seasmhach le ìre ìseal de charbon a thoirt a-steach?

Mar a chuireas tu a-steach na beachdan agad

Nach cuir thu do chuid bheachdan a-steach a’ cur feum air an fhoirm air an Lìon, ris a bheil ceangal gu h-ìseal.

Tha sinn a’ cur fàilte air beachdan sgrìobhte ann an Gàidhlig, sa Bheurla, ann an Scots no cànan sam bith eile. 

Tha a’ ghairm airson beachdan a’ tighinn gu crìch 26 Lùnastal 2022.

Interests

  • NZET