Communities in Ports and Maritime Consulting ~ Public Sector
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.
Fisher Associates was commissioned by Cork City Council (CCC) to advise on issues related to the Port of Cork, in connection with CCC's compulsory purchase order application related to development of Cork City Docklands, and specifically on the construction of two bridges just downstream of Cork City Quays. The services provided included:
- Identification of the key marine issues raised by objectors to the CPO application, and providing a lead for CCC on discussions related to marine operational impacts of bridges, and arrangements required to mitigate these.
- Preparation of a risk assessment, on both a with and without bridges basis, based on best practice according to the UK's Port Marine Safety Code.
- Assessment of the ongoing commercial consequences of the bridges, and the impact on the competitiveness of the Port of Cork once the bridges were in place, based on a review of the market and revenues and general commercial prospects for City Quays.
- An assessment of the real potential impact of road traffic taking priority over navigation during morning and evening traffic peaks, including a tidal analysis and analysis of shipping traffic.
- Preparation of an outline valuation, considering the complexities of the specific circumstances applying in this case.
The application became subject of an Oral Hearing, at which Fisher Associates provided expert witnesses on both the marine technical and commercial issues. (2008/9)
Bahrain's economy experienced record levels of investment in 2008 due to the high level of oil prices, which provided Middle East investors with funds for real estate projects and infrastructure development. This led to a chronic shortage of building materials (sand, aggregates, cement and steel reinforcement), due to the inability of pre-boom sources to continue supplying Bahrain, and the lack of alternative means of shipping materials into the country. (2008)
On behalf of the Ministry for Works, Fisher Associates was engaged to undertake a market study and financial / economic investment appraisal for a new terminal handling building materials. Subcontracted by Royal Haskoning, the work involved:
- Preparing a market analysis and future demand projections for materials, primarily based on benchmarking consumption with other countries at various levels of economic activity.
- Examining the financial viability of the BMP with respect to the alternative options and the estimated capital, annual maintenance and annual operating costs.
- Preparing an economic appraisal of the potential savings to Bahrain from its implementation. We looked at the impact on government revenues from additional taxation receipts, which would result from construction projects being completed without delays, and identified two main areas where the construction of the BMP would bring economic benefits:
- Reducing the costs of imported building materials.
- Ensuring security of supplies and hence reducing delays and uncertainties in the construction sector.
- Identification of strategies open to the Government for funding and operation of the terminals, and quantitative appraisal and analysis of these in terms of value for money.
On behalf of the lead Regional Development Agency for transport in the UK (Advantage West Midlands), Fisher Associates undertook a review of the Department for Transport's consultation paper on guidance for port masterplans, and prepared a draft response, under subcontract to Atkins. (2008)
The guidance seeks to facilitate planning for significant port developments, and help to overcome information asymmetry and difficulty of coordination between stakeholders. The guidance is intended to ensure early and effective coordination of ports' plans with regional, local and network providers' planning, and awareness of needs for relevant impact assessments. It should do this by encouraging dialogue / consultation that would otherwise occur piecemeal.
The RDA's draft response was framed in the context of their mission to spread economic prosperity and opportunity throughout the nine regions of England. The draft response considered:
- How port masterplans interface with the RDA's mission, in the context of the forthcoming broadening of their role.
- The relevance of ports to the RDAs, particularly in respect of their economic contribution, and drawing conclusions on specific points that might be reflected in port masterplans.
- A point-by-point response to the key questions posed by the consultation.
- Countryside Council for Wales
- National Trust
- Pembrokeshire Access Group
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority
- Pembrokeshire County Council
- Pembrokeshire Local Health Board
- PLANED
