A RENEWED effort to reinstate the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry service has been announced by
Enterprise Minister, Barry Gardiner MP and Scottish Executive Transport Minister, Nicol Stephen.
Tenders have been invited for the service, that links Argyll and Moyle, through a joint Scottish Executive
and Northern Ireland Administration project. The new contract will attract a maximum one million pounds
annual subsidy over the five years.The decision to re-tender the service again follows a
joint Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Administration review of the service and work
undertaken by the Kintyre and Moyle business communities.
The Dalriada Business Action Group (DBAG) has presented work to demonstrate the case for a further
tendering exercise for the route and further raised its profile for potential operators. Barry Gardiner MP, said: "I am very pleased that we are in a position to be able to re-tender this service. This is an important step forward in our plans to have the ferry service restored. I hope that a successful operator can be found."
Scottish Executive Minister for Transport, Nichol Stephen, said: "There is strong local support for
this service, especially from businesses in Kintyre, to ensure the future economic growth of the local
community. A new ferry service would also create new opportunities in trade and tourism between Kintyre and North Antrim."