MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland's coastal shipping contract awarded
In a country which consists of two large islands and a multitude of smaller islands, many of which are occupied by wool and meat producers, as well as providers of tourism opportunities, there has been considerable interest expressed recently in which company would be awarded the contract to provide internal shipping services to the Falkland Islands.
Bidders for this service, which includes the requirement to provide a regular ferry service between East and West Falklands, had been narrowed down to a short list of two, who had been asked to provide further information to the Falkland Government's Upper house, Executive Council, who today issued the following release:
"At a special meeting yesterday, Executive Council gave further detailed and careful consideration to information provided by two companies in respect of proposals to provide a new coastal shipping service, including a cross-sound ferry service. The meeting followed discussions with both companies the previous day."
"Following extensive examination of both proposals, which provided very different solutions, Executive Council has decided to enter into detailed contract negotiations with Workboat Services Limited (WSL) with a view to that company commencing the provision of the service as soon as possible."
"WSL is a new Falkland Islands registered company owned jointly by Fortuna Limited, Holyhead Towing Company Limited & Dan and Marie Loveridge. A new, 45 metre bow ramp landing craft, adapted for Falkland Islands waters and to carry up to 36 passengers on the ferry service, is to be purchased by WSL. Detailed pre-contract negotiations are likely to take some time to complete and it is not therefore possible to say when the new service will commence. Until then, the service will continue to be provided by the MV Tamar."
Interviewed by the Falkland Islands Radio Service (FIRS), Councillor Mike Rendell, who holds the transport portfolio, said: that he was very pleased that the contract had gone to Workboat Services, though he praised the quality of the competing tender, from a consortium based in Port Howard and headed by Myles Lee.
In the end, he said, members of the Tender Board had opted for the proposal, which offered the greatest potential to develop an improved ferry and supply service to the Islands and for use by the MoD, which will provide much needed income.
Councillor Rendell said that he hoped the new service would begin sometime, early in the New Year.
John Fowler (Mercopress) Stanley
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