Question reference: S4W-29090
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 21 December 2015
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Current status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 January 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if the Dunoon/Gourock Ferry Services contract includes a requirement to meet the charges from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for the use of Gourock harbour, whether it will ensure that the charges are based on real costs incurred.
Answer
The public services contract between Argyll Ferries Limited and the Scottish Ministers does include a requirement for to meet the harbour charges from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) for the use of Gourock harbour. It should be noted that Gourock harbour is a complex facility and has enjoyed a disproportionate level of expenditure in recent years compared to its activity levels. The contract can be found at the attached link:
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/ferries/gourock-dunoon
On the level of harbour charges, I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29093 on 6 January 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
It has been confirmed by CMAL that the current level of income generated by Gourock does not match the past, present or future improvements needed and as such the Gourock harbour is cross-subsidised by CMAL from the dues collected at other ports in their network.