Pentland Ferries

Pentland Ferries operate a daily ferry service between Gills Bay in Caithness, Scotland about 3 miles West of John o' Groats, and St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay in Orkney. This route, known as The Short Sea Crossing, is generally considered to be the quickest route across the Pentland Firth by car, taking about 1 hour.

The company currently has two vessels the MV "Pentalina-B" and the MV "Claymore" although only one operates on the route at any time.

Due to the short sailing time there is no cabin accommodation: however a cafeteria is available for meals and refreshments.

Pentland Ferries is a privately owned, family company which has operated since the summer of 2001. It is one of only two Scottish ferry companies that receive no subsidy or other financial assistance. While not being designated Orkney's lifeline ferry service, it carries some 80% of the livestock and is the only service which can carry Dangerous Goods Cargoes, including aviation fuel.

Company history

The company was started by its present managing director, Andrew Banks. In October 1997 he purchased the ex Caledonian MacBrayne ferry MV "Iona", the first drive-through MacBrayne ferry with both bow and stern doors. This was renamed "Pentalina-B", the name Pentalina being still registered to a previous vessel which had been sold. An attempt was made to start a service between the Cromarty Firth at Invergordon and Orkney but being unable to generate enough freight, or get a subsidy, the service was abandoned and the vessel laid up.

Feeling the short sea route had potential, even although it had been tried and abandoned by Orkney Islands Council in 1989, he obtained, after protracted negotiations, a 99 year lease on the Gills Bay terminal. After some two years work improving the site the recently formed Pentland Ferries vessel "Pentalina-B" started the service in June 2001 sailing to St Margaret's Hope.

The MV "Claymore", another ex Cal-Mac vessel, was purchased in 2002 from Sea Containers Ltd who had operated it on the Campbeltown to Ballycastle run. After another attempt at starting up the Orkney to Invergordon route fell through, the vessel was put to work during the winter season in place of the "Pentalina-B".

Present operations

The "Pentalina-B" and "Claymore" can carry around 50 cars, or 4–5 articulated lorries and fewer cars. Having two vessels to maintain while only one is working is obviously a drain on the company's resources, however in 2006 the "Pentalina-B" was chartered out in its off season to carry livestock across the channel from Dover. What their future is when the new catamaran takes over the service at the end of August is not clear, the "Pentalina-B" is near the end of her working life while there has been talk of the "Claymore" returning to Ballycastle, possibly with Pentland Ferries or another operator.

The company is probably unique in having to finance and carry out its own improvements at the Gills Bay terminal. Improvements at St Margaret's Hope are through the local harbour trust to which harbour dues are paid but which give the company less control over what can be done there.

In addition to the usual tractor units and tugs for moving trailers and other cargo equipment there are a number of pieces of construction and earth-moving equipment not usually required by a ferry company. The fleet also includes a barge used for dredging at Gills in the summer and an extension to the pier at The Hope in the winter. Also an ex fishing boat to tow the barge and a tug / workboat for general duties.

Fair Competition

Of significant controversy is why Pentland Ferries receive no subsidy, and why competing ferry operator NorthLink Ferries and their parent company, the state owned Caledonian MacBrayne receive millions of pounds in state subsidies, distorting fair competition.

Future prospects

The "Pentalina B" and "Claymore" are both due for replacement at the end of August 2008 by a catamaran ferry. [ [http://pentlandferries.co.uk "Arriving Spring 2008!" - Pentland Ferries website] Retrieved 2008-04-09.] This will greatly improve passenger comfort, reduce the crossing time and improve reliability having been designed for the route. It will have a capacity of 350 passengers and either 32 cars and 8 articulated lorries or an increased number of cars, with a service speed of 18 knots.Fact|date=April 2008

Talks continue over gaining access to the Burwick terminal on South Ronaldsay from which the new ferry could operate. This would cut the crossing time to about 30 minutes. Due to its exposed location to westerly weather the Burwick terminal would probably be used only during the summer months.

There have also been talks in the past about a linkspan being installed at Wick. The old linkspan from Stromness is lying there and has been offered to the harbour for a nominal sum by Andrew Banks who owns it. Were they able to use Wick, which is sheltered when Gills Bay is closed by westerly winds, then a reduced service could be maintained in all but the worst weather. At present there is no agreement over who will pay to install it, nor is there any imminent sign of this happening.

External links

* [http://www.pentlandferries.co.uk/ Pentland Ferries – Official Website]
* [http://www.shipsofthenorth.co.uk/op_pentland.asp Pentland Ferries – Unofficial Ships Data and History Website]
* [http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/orkney/pentlandferries/index.html Undiscovered Scotland Page]
* [http://www.ferryphotos.co.uk/sheets/pentland.htm Pictures Pentalina B / Claymore]
* [http://www.orcadian.co.uk/fromfiles/pastpics/pastpics14.htm St Margaret's Hope Pier]

References