Skills in Port and Maritime Consultancy ~ Economics

Establishment of Ferry and Water Taxi Company, Abu Dhabi City, UAE

Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) wished to investigate the feasibility of establishing a company to provide ferry and water taxi services forAbu Dhabi City and its surrounding islands. It therefore commissioned Fisher Associates, in association with Atkins and BMT Nigel Gee, to prepare a feasibility study on establishing ferry and water taxi services. (2010)

The methodology included:

• Market Assessment to identify possible passenger uptake based on specific projects and developments located in the area.
• Technical Assessment to evaluate and sift a range of options, ensuring that the preferred operations have been properly tested against alternatives.
• Business Strategy setting out the key strategic choices and options.
• Financial and Economic Appraisal with a sensitivity analysis.
• Recommendations on preferred options and key risks.

Socio-economic and Business Case for Rosslare–Waterford Rail Line, Ireland

The Rosslare-Limerick Junction Railway is approximately 192 km of railway infrastructure linking population centres across the south of Ireland. Due to poor performance, a national report identified the Rosslare-Waterford section of the line for possible closure.

The National Transport Authority invited a submission from the affected regional and local authorities to inform its decision. The South-East Regional Authority therefore commissioned a project team comprising KSA, Imrecon and Fisher Associates, to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the complete Rosslare-Waterford-Limerick rail corridor. This included an in-depth review of all of the relevant policy context, consideration of the socio-economic and business case for an alternative strategy to address the performance issues, and review of the business case submitted by Irish Rail to the NTA.

Fisher Associates role concerned demonstration of the freight and passenger potential of the line through improved linkages with the Port of Rosslare. (2010)

Port Masterplan Market Assessment, Port of Shoreham

We were appointed by Shoreham Port Authority via subcontract to Hyder to prepare an Opportunity Study as a basis for the market analysis for Shoreham's port masterplan. This work was based upon (2009): 

• Statistical analysis of trade, and traffic moving through other ports in SE England.
• Discussion of potential markets with SPA and key port users.
• Desk research into new opportunities such as offshore wind farms.

The methodology concentrated on answering two key questions:

• How much potential port traffic is there in the port hinterland that is suitable for handling at Shoreham?
• How effectively can Shoreham compete for this traffic against other ports?
  

Business Improvement Plan, Port of Sunderland, England

Following our previous commission, Sunderland City Council retained us to prepare scenarios for how the Port could be organised, managed, and traded into a position of financial self-sufficiency. This included a clear analysis of the cost structure of the activities of the port, and a thorough assessment of the markets and cargoes that the Port might win. The objective was to identify how it could transition to a fully sustainable port business. (2009)

The key aspects of the plan were:

• Clear analysis of the cost / revenue / profitability structure of the port business to establish exactly where it is now.
• Market review of the Port of Sunderland's competitive position, and identification of cargo in the regional market and key opportunities for growth.
• Identifying any outstanding essential requirements for maintenance, and potential ideas for physical development.
• Preparation of a new governance and organisation structure.
• Identification of measures to achieve financial improvement and financial analysis to illustrate how the Port may achieve its goal of financial self-sustainability.

Port Concession Advice, Mauritius

Mauritius Ports Authority was in the process of letting an international concession for operation of most of the facilities in Port Louis. It appointed Fisher Associates to (2009):

• Review, propose changes to, and advise on proposed terms and conditions for the RFP and concession contract for a container terminal and other services.
• Advise on the main "heads of terms" for the concession agreement.
  

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