Sectors of our Ports and Maritime Consulting ~ Ferries
In the case of peripheral island groups, ferries are often a vital component of policy in supporting sustainable populations and a sustainable economy. We have worked on a number of projects in NW Europe in this context.
The Mersey Partnership (TMP) commissioned Fisher Associates to carry out an audit of the physical assets in the ports, airport and distribution sectors that make up the SuperPort, and to identify the capabilities of the companies and other organisations that provide support services to it. We were also tasked to review the competitiveness of these.
This information was collated in a client database, which formed the main deliverable of this work. We also prepared a report with analysis of the competitiveness of the different assets and capabilities using criteria for strategic analysis (from the BCG Matrix and Porter's 5 Forces), based on the judgements of some 20 key stakeholder organisations gathered via a workshop session. (2010)
Establishment of Ferry and Water Taxi Company, Abu Dhabi City, UAEAbu 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.
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)
Dorset AONB partnership appointed Fisher Associates to investigate the long-term potential for waterborne passenger transport along the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site of Dorset and East Devon, for both functional and leisure journeys, enabling integration between waterborne and surface transport. The work involved (2009):
- An assessment of the market potential.
- Review of issues connected with vessels and landing facilities that are needed to operate services, and the constraints that impact on these.
- An assessment of barriers.
- Recommendations and conclusions.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) appointed Fisher Associates to carry out a review of the operation and ownership of Scottish ports hosting lifeline ferry services. This contributed to a comprehensive review of ferry services being undertaken in Scotland, in order to develop a long-term strategy and the policies to achieve this. The assignment was approached in four key steps:
- A baseline review to fully identify and clarify the existing arrangements for who does what and where with whom etc.
- Make a review of relevant policy and regulatory exigencies at all levels covering all aspects of the port's operational environments.
- Prepare a framework for analysis and assess how ports perform against this.
- Draw conclusions.
Our underlying approach was to develop a database to form the basis of an ongoing management tool for CMAL. This added significant value by focusing on delivering a management tool developed according to best practice, including scoping the database, preparing functional specification, and providing user notes. (2009)
