Ferry News Archive
Freight port idea to solve Isle of Wight ferry fears
Date: 19 Jul 2006 00:00 Source: Isle of Wight todayBetter co-operation between ferry companies could help solve future travel problems on the Island where services could be operating at full capacity within four years.
They were among the findings of a report by transport consultants MVA, which was brought in by the IW Council to investigate the sustainability of Island ports.
Among possible solutions presented to the policy commission for economy, tourism, regeneration and transport last week were inter-ticketing between ferry companies, new freight holding areas and better cycle access, while Gurnard member Cllr John Hobart suggested investigating a small freight port on the River Medina.
MVA project director Tim Cuthbert said demand for ferry travel was increasing and the peak times had to be managed.
"It is forecast the present vehicular ferry operations would not be able to cope with the summer peak period demands for travel in the future," he warned councillors.
"By 2010 additional capacity would be needed or demand management measures would be needed to encourage more off peak travel."
Mr Cuthbert suggested real time message boards could be erected on the Island and at mainland approaches to the ports warning of possible delays or availability.
This could be coupled with a system of inter-ticketing with ferry companies accepting tickets for each others sailings with a system for re-embursement established.
The idea was welcomed by Cllr Mike Cunningham who said: "Through ticketing used to exist on the Island and it worked then so it should be able to work now."
Double berthing, with passengers and vehicles disembarking from one vessel while marshals loaded another at the same time, was also suggested as a possibility by MVA.
"I understand it is something that works quite efficiently on the continent," said Mr Cuthbert.
Cllr Hobart's suggestion the River Medina could be used as a route for non-urgent cargo, which could be unloaded at a small container port up-river, was described as sensible by Mr Cuthbert.
"It was not something we were asked to look at so it is difficult to comment but it sounds like a sensible idea," he said.
Although the four potential freight holding areas suggested by MVA had already been investigated previously, Mr Cuthbert said it was important to find a suitable site for heavy goods vehicles to wait for ferries away from the existing ports.
The commission is now to invite stakeholders, including ferry companies and English Nature, to comment on the report.
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