Ferry plans on hold (From Penarth Times)

Ferry plans on hold

11:50am Friday 18th June 2010 in News

THE LAUNCH of a ferry service between Penarth Pier and Ilfracombe in North Devon has been delayed until 2011.

Severn Link Ferry Services had planned to open the link between Penarth and the Devonshire coast this Spring - but delays in creating landing facilities in Swansea have held up the plans.

Services are set to run between Ilfracombe and Swansea and, following the unprecedented level of interest, planning for further services between Penarth, Ilfracombe and Minehead is well underway.

But no services can run until appropriate, MCA approved landing facilities and an overnight layover berth, which acts as the company’s official operating point, have been completed at Swansea. Geoff Metcalf, Managing Director of Severn Link, said: “This is bitterly disappointing but, unfortunately out of our control.

“Although ferries are up and running and have undertaken sea-trials, without appropriate landing facilities we clearly cannot operate or be granted a full licence by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

“We have been offered a temporary berth from August, but this is so late in the season, that by the time the MCA have had chance to do their final checks and we’ve run our trials from this point, we will be well into the autumn,” he added. “While it is possible that we may be able to run some limited trial services it is with huge regret that we will have to postpone the full launch until next year.”

Meanwhile, operators of the Waverley and Balmoral pleasure steamers, that run from Penarth Pier to Ilfracombe, have reassured passengers that their services will continue to run throughout the summer.

Waverley will sail from Penarth until June 20 and Balmoral will operate from July 2.

Andy O’Brian, Captain of the Waverley, said: “We are delighted to welcome all our regular passengers aboard and will be happy to convey any disappointed passengers who were planning to travel by fast ferry this summer.”

A full timetable and list of routes and destinations is available online at: www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk.