Ferry plan gets safety green light (From Penarth Times)

Ferry plan gets safety green light

2:30pm Saturday 15th May 2010 in Latest news

SAFETY tests on a new ferry service between Penarth Pier and Ilfracombe in North Devon have now been completed.

Severn Link Ferry Services plan to open the link between Penarth and the Devonshire coast this spring, but recent good weather had hampered attempts to run the tests.

A spokesperson for Severn Link said: "All safety tests have now been completed and Severn Link is awaiting further instruction from the regulatory bodies. "We won’t know a launch date until all the necessary approvals post-testing have been signed off, but our intention is to commence operations as soon as possible once licensing is granted.

"We’re just finalising all the operational elements so that we can move into action as soon as licensing is received."

The plan would see a high-speed catamaran take passengers from Penarth to Ilfracombe in roughly an hour and a half.

Initially the ferry would carry around 300 foot passengers – but there are plans to extend this to cars and larger ferries at a later date.

Meanwhile, Severn Link has completed a two-vessel deal with ferry operator Wightlink, taking ownership of the ‘FastCat Ryde’ which will service routes across the Bristol Channel from this year.

The 34-knot Kvaerner passenger catamaran, which carries up to 360 passengers, has undergone exterior renovations and a repaint and will shortly join its sister ship, the former ‘FastCat Shanklin’, in Swansea.

Geoff Metcalf, Managing Director of Severn Link, said, "This is the next major step in being able to commence regular Bristol Channel crossings with a fun, fast and affordable ferry service, which will make travelling from the South West of England to South Wales easier than ever before."