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Firm support for new ferry proposal

Ferry Online Travel News 10/01/2008

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Plans for North Devon - South Wales route gain ground.

The proposal for a new ferry route linking North Devon and South Wales is receiving significant support from experts and academics.

The plan calls for a multi-million pound fast catamaran service running from Ilfracombe to Swansea, as well as Penarth to Minehead. The 45-minute route was hailed by Professor Alf Baird, head of Edinburgh's Napier University Maritime Reseach Group.

"The routes are inevitable!" Baird said. "Many historic ferry routes are being re-started due to rising road transport costs and worsening congestion, aided by ongoing technological advances in ferry design."

Leading academic Professor Brian Morgan from Wales approved the plan after conducting a thorough analysis of the financial and commercial aspects.

Chris Marrow, leader of the proposed project, said this was the first time that hard figures had been produced to support market research for such a project.

"A company has already been formed, the financing of the first vessel is being actively discussed with the banks, and equity partners are being sought," Marrow said. "The experts have endorsed the principle, verified the calculations and said the business plan is robust, so this puts us in a very strong position in terms of getting funding and means we will be taken that much more seriously by potential investors."

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