Marine Asset Management Plan - Works Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 September 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute Harbour Board — 11 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ARGYLL AND BUTE HARBOUR BOARD ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES 11 SEPTEMBER 2025 MARINE ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN – WORKS UPDATE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Members on the programmed Capital works being carried out to develop and upgrade the Council’s marine infrastructure. It includes significant programmes currently planned as well as those underway which cover ten of our Ports and Harbours and represents a potential investment of almost £22.5m over the current year. Estimates which are included where the project runs beyond the already approved costs are subject to change depending on design, construction methods and market issues. The most detailed estimates are naturally focused on the next 5 years. The plan is adaptable and can change to suit emerging priorities and circumstances. 1.2 Members are asked to: Consider the update on the major programmes currently being addressed within the Argyll and Bute Council’s MAMP (appendix 1).
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ARGYLL AND BUTE HARBOUR BOARD ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES 11 SEPTEMBER 2025 MARINE ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN – WORKS UPDATE 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report provides Harbour Board Members with a review of the marine infrastructure works contained within the Marine Asset Management Plan (MAMP). It includes significant and major programmes currently planned as well as those underway. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Members are asked to: 3.1.1 Consider the update on the major programmes currently being addressed within the Argyll and Bute Council’s MAMP (appendix 1) 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The MAMP lists the programmed Capital works being carried out to develop and upgrade the Council’s marine infrastructure. Estimates are included where the project runs beyond the already approved costs, and these are subject to change depending on design, construction methods and market issues. More detailed estimates are focused on the next 5 years. The plan is adaptable and can change to suit emerging priorities and circumstances. 4.1.1 The plan contains projects located throughout the Argyll and Bute Council area, many of which include work to adapt existing, or renew, infrastructure to support the CalMac Ferry Limited (CFL) services in advance of new vessels being delivered. 4.1.2 Funding for these Capital projects is mainly delivered by Prudential Borrowing, paid back through fees and charges collected at our major ports. However,
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other funding and grant opportunities from other sources are actively explored, for example Crown Estates Scotland and Transport Scotland. 4.1.3 Projects are competitively tendered to ensure a wide range of quotations, delivering value for money across a range of suppliers to deliver works to a high quality and on time. Projects are monitored and re-forecast regularly to manage risks and adjust budgets where required and in good time. 4.2 Alongside our maintenance, servicing and conservancy works, there are presently several long and shorter-term projects across Argyll & Bute which are listed here. • Craignure – New Ferry Terminal (including Passenger Access System refurbishment). • Iona breakwater – protection of ferry berthing slip. • Fionnphort overnight berthing facility. • Port Askaig – Enabling works for new CalMac vessel. • Campbeltown Harbour – Wall A renewal. • Rothesay Harbour – phased strengthening works. • Feolin – Jura passenger only service access. • Gigha / Tayinloan – SVRP upgrades including overnight / charging at Gigha. 4.2.1 Craignure Terminal The Council’s Harbour Board Members met on 20 March and approved the completion of the Outline Business Case (OBC) and a continuation of the project to the Final Business Case (FBC) pre-construction stage costing c.£3million. The Project Objectives include: • Replace the existing terminal infrastructure, parts of which are in poor condition, deteriorating or have limited structural capacity. • Increase berth capacity at the new ferry terminal to allow the full range of design vessels to be safely accommodated. • Ensure vessels can reliably berth year-round at the new ferry terminal, including in challenging weather conditions and overnight, to reduce weather-related cancellations and improve the winter timetable. • Increase resilience of the new ferry terminal operations.
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• Allow safe and efficient embarkation and disembarkation for both vehicles and foot passengers, including those with impaired mobility and wheelchair users. • Increase capacity of the new vehicle marshalling area in line with industry standards, addressing congestion on the A849. • Provide a new terminal building with modern facilities, meeting staff and passenger requirements. • Provide access for RNLI lifeboat, which is used for medical evacuations from Mull to mainland. • Avoid and minimise disruption to the ferry service as far as practicable during the construction works. This next stage will develop more accurate construction costing estimates as the design and methodology become more informed. The initial construction phase projection cost of £50 million is now estimated at c.£96 million based on inflationary increases to the original 2020 estimates. Officers are currently progressing with the tender to appoint the management consultants who will progress the project to Final Business Case (FBC). The tender is anticipated to be live by November 2025 with an appointment expected in January 2026. Spend to date: £1,481k 2025 / 2026: £1,500k 2026 / 2027: £1,500k Current planning figure: £50m Longterm Estimate: £100m 4.2.2 Craignure Passenger Access System (PAS) The design and build tenders were returned with costs significantly higher than originally estimated and timescales significantly longer than expected. Officers have since discussed options with representatives from CMAL and Calmac and agreed that operationally an inspection and refurbishment of the existing facility should take place to extend the safe working life of the existing PAS until the new pier is completed. This is anticipated to include some structural elements, electrical wiring, painting etc. CMAL and Argyll and Bute Council will work together to progress this. 4.2.3 Iona breakwater The contractor, Foyle & Marine Dredging Ltd is now fully mobilised to site following the Marine Directorate license issues, which have now been resolved resulting in the authorisation to commence laying the breakwater structure. This
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has resulted in an increase to the cost of the project of around 7%, but officers are hopeful that this can be mitigated due to the preparation work already completed. Rock material from Northern Ireland and Norway will be used to manage supply issues with rock from Glensanda Quarry. Works to the existing slipway and new toilet block, which had continued during the delay, are nearing completion. Spend to date: £2,500k 2025 / 2026: £13,000k 2026 / 2027: £0 Current planning figure: £15m 4.2.4 Fionnphort Fionnphort overnight berthing facility is progressing to follow on from the Iona works, for approximately 18 months construction. Preparation is progressing with Fionnphort to ensure: • Overnight berth • Safe access for crew • Sheltered berthing • Charging and supply facilities • Traffic survey to enhance the passenger road user interface at the terminal area. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is in process including the socio- economic assessment. Design colleagues are continuing to deal with details with CalMac Marine regarding swept paths and approaches. When Marine Scotland approve the EIA we will submit construction, dredging and planning parallel to this Design colleagues will assemble the tender. Public engagement dates to follow. It is reasonable to expect that the seagrass problems on the Iona side will be the same for Fionnphort, therefore every effort is being made to resolve the fundamental issue with Transport Scotland and the Marine Directorate. Spend to date: £273k 2025 / 2026: £527k 2026 / 2027: £20,000k Current planning figure: £25.8m
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4.2.5 Port Askaig We are progressing with Council works to enhance existing facilities, consisting of relining, signage, parking allocation, CCTV and traffic access control installation. Lining and roundabout and CCTV power have been completed. Signage and traffic control gates will be installed imminently. We are also discussing details with CalMac on traffic management measures; information signs and other facilities staff will require at the port. Accounts remain for the extra land / overspill area. Spend to date: £77k 2025 / 2026: £1,923k 2026 / 2027: £0 Current planning figure: £2m 4.2.6 Campbeltown Campbeltown Harbour continues to be very busy commercially. Overhauled linkspan cylinders will be reinstated in the coming weeks when logistics allow and will be followed by the remainder of the linkspan overhaul and life extension works. Other business opportunities include using Campbeltown as a strategic supply hub for the planned offshore wind projects are being explored and this represents a real opportunity, to develop the Port and secure long-term work in and from Campbeltown harbour. Replacement of ‘Wall A’ at the Old Quay is well underway and due for completion in October 2025. Concrete and quayside marine fittings have been completed. Spend to date: £3,833k 2025 / 2026: £3,017k 2026 / 2027: £0 Current planning figure: £6m 4.2.7 Rothesay Quay Preparations continue for Phase 3 of the overall works, which will see a strengthening of the east roundhead and will include fender renewals. Stage 1 of this project requires an existing bollard to be relocated off the roundhead. This work is currently at the design stage and is planned for tender around
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early Autumn 2025 with works to relocate the bollard occurring over late Autumn / Winter 2025. Spend to date: £1994k 2025 / 2026: £500k 2026 / 2027: £2,000k Current planning figure: £2.5m 4.2.8 Feolin We will be installing a passenger only access at Feolin, for those periods when the vehicular vessel is not available and the service would otherwise be cancelled. Although these occasions are relatively rare, we recognised the need for a replacement to the ladder access used at present. A plan for concrete steps between the existing dolphins following a more traditional design has been drawn up and approvals received. Officers are hopeful work will be underway in the coming weeks. (Other funding £100k total) 4.2.9 Gigha and Tayinloan These plans include and overnight berthing and charging facility upgrade at Gigha, able to accommodate the new SVRP vessels being constructed by CMAL. There are also accommodating upgrades required at Tayinloan that along with the new vessels should see an improved service to and from Gigha. Further public consultation was carried out by Officers on 27th / 28th August. Ground Investigation work has now been completed at the locations, and this will help with refining the construction plans and methodology. Officers are now progressing licenses for dredging and construction and preparing to submit documents for Planning Permission. Spend to date: £242k 2025 / 2026: £1,000k 2026 / 2027: £500K Current planning figure: £12.4m
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5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 This report provides Harbour Board Members with a review of the marine infrastructure works contained within the Marine Asset Management Plan (MAMP). It includes significant and major programmes currently planned as well as those underway. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy None directly arising from this report. 6.2 Financial Increases to fees and charges are required to ensure future income is sufficient to maintain and develop Argyll & Bute Council’s marine assets for future years. Alternative funding routes will also be explored to support future projects. 6.3 Legal Considered to be none directly arising from this report. 6.4 HR None. 6.5 Customer Service An overall improvement in travel experience and reliability should result with improved and maintained infrastructure. 6.6 Risk Completed works will reduce the repair and maintenance on existing infrastructure Above inflation increases may have a detrimental economic impact on businesses using the facilities for example: • Fishermen. • bulk importers. • timber exporters. • wind farm developers. • Cruise companies. Significant increases may also reduce usage and customers while making attracting new business more difficult. External influences may come to bear on ferry usage patterns which may, in turn, impact on income from ferry fees and charges i.e. Vessel breakdowns and
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redeployments, Environmental issues (car use), Brexit and potential changes in RET. This will pose a potential risk to income. 6.7 Climate Change There are no direct impacts regarding climate change from this report, due regard will be given to climate change with a view to minimising any climate change impact and these will be considered as and when they arise. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty None directly arising from this report. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics None directly arising from this report. 6.10 Consumer Duty None directly arising from this report. 6.11 Island Communities Completed works and projects will enhance service reliability and community connectivity. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing None directly arising from this report. Kirsty Flanagan Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services Harbour Board Chair: Councillor Ross Moreland Policy Lead for Transport: Councillor John Armour August 2025 For further information contact: Scott Reid, Marine Operations Manager APPENDICES Appendix 1 Marine Asset Management Plan