New Ferry Route Unveiled: Swansea to South West England Set for Expansion

Ocean Prime Industries Ltd plans to publish a shortlist of possible sites for a planned ferry route linking Swansea with the south-west of England in a report scheduled for release next January.

The business is presently undertaking a 12-month feasibility assessment for the concept of establishing a maritime link. Even though this initiative remains in its initial phases, the CEO and founder of the enterprise, Dave Sampson, has mentioned his contemplation of using a vessel measuring approximately 55 meters in length. This ship would be designed to transport both people, vehicles, and certain goods with velocities reaching up to 40 knots.

The suggested ferry would have zero emissions, run using an electric propulsion system, and function with renewable energy sources, featuring a fairly modest draft depth.

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Mr Sampson at this stage affirmed that Swansea is the sole definitive location should the initiative proceed. As for possible additional sites throughout the Bristol Channel and Celtic Sea, he commented: “We are neither confirming nor dismissing them.”

Mr Sampson stressed that the service should operate all year round, with destinations requiring both a vehicle ramp and preferably a shore power supply. He explained further: "We're not looking at constructing a large terminal here."

The idea of a Bristol Channel ferry service isn't novel. A quick service called Severnlink, which was meant to connect Swansea with Ilfracombe in northern Devon, almost commenced operations in 2010 but encountered financial problems.

Three years back, Rob Stewart, who leads Swansea Council, voiced his backing for a ferry powered by hydrogen. Since then, the council has provided funds from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to Ocean Prime Industries for conducting a feasibility study.

Supporters claim that travelers could save time typically wasted on the M4 and M5, and the tourism sector would benefit from this improvement.

Mr Sampson revealed that around 4,000 people have responded to a public consultation on the ferry proposal since its launch in early March, with approximately 98% in favour. The remaining responses were either "maybes" or "noes".

He noted that supporters wanted the option to bring their cars and desired good public transport links. The "maybes", he said, generally liked the idea but sought more information, while the "noes" believed it had been tried before and wouldn't work.

They provide more insight," he remarked, "I rather enjoy the 'noes'; they offer greater clarity than the 'yesses'.

Nevertheless, it’s not only the general public who have demonstrated interest. Mr Simpson mentioned: “This has truly been captivating – several major shipping firms have reached out to us, logistics businesses have also made contact, fuel suppliers have gotten in touch, and we’ve even had marine engineers showing their desire to collaborate with us.”

We've been greatly encouraged by the entire affair.

More interaction is scheduled for the upcoming months, coupled with an examination of traffic data, further study into both British and global ferry operations, as well as evaluations of their economic feasibility.

A concluding report is set to be submitted to Swansea Council in January, aiming to assess the economic feasibility and possible advantages of introducing a ferry service in the area. Mr Sampson has warned that there might not be sufficient interest to ensure its success.

Describing the challenging conditions in the Bristol Channel, which turns into the Celtic Sea towards the west, Mr Sampson noted that while waves can hit towering heights of up to 10m between Swansea and North Devon, they are typically between one-metre to 1.5m.

"He mentioned that there would be occasions when they couldn’t provide the service at all." The aim, he continued, “is to operate it whenever feasible. Running a service exclusively during the summer can be quite challenging from a business perspective.”

A key aspect of the ferry’s design is to address this issue, aiming to ensure the most comfortable journey possible across a wide range of sea conditions.

The intricacy is heightened by the considerable tidal range of the Bristol Channel, which becomes more pronounced towards the eastern part, making navigation difficult for low-tide ports.

Nevertheless, Mr Sampson stays receptive to opportunities, mentioning Cornwall or Pembrokeshire as possible locations, and possibly even Rosslare in southeastern Ireland if there is significant support for a Swansea route. He also noted, “It’s all driven by what our customers want.”

Regarding emissions, Mr Sampson acknowledged the project’s lofty environmental aspirations but also conceded the challenges involved. “It would have been simpler for us to propose a hybrid diesel system or another type of hybrid,” he commented.

Ocean Prime Industries' website indicates that the possibility of low-emission passenger ferries is growing more viable. According to the firm, achieving zero emissions might be possible through the use of hydrogen as an energy source, assuming that renewable sources are employed to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The company is currently on the lookout for innovations aimed at boosting vessel efficiency, including several advancements that might still be under development but should become available over the coming two years.

When asked if he foresaw having just one ferry or several, Mr Sampson indicated they should begin with a single vessel. He further mused that there could be possibilities for this ferry to carry personnel working on planned tidal lagoon and offshore wind initiatives.

A tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay is being considered as part of an extensive energy and infrastructure initiative. Additionally, there’s another proposed tidal lagoon spanning from Minehead to Watchet across the channel. As part of this plan for the Somerset lagoon, a new ferry terminal would be constructed in Minehead to accommodate a smaller roll-on/roll-off ferry service.

At the same time, various ports are investigating potential advantages they could gain from a newly proposed government-backed floating offshore wind sector in the Celtic Sea.

Mr Sampson, who earned his degree in marine biology from Swansea University and obtained a master’s degree in aquaculture and fisheries management from the University of Stirling, boasts a varied professional journey. This includes roles such as employment at a trout farm, serving as the head of marketing for the telecommunications company 3, involvement in international development projects, and overseeing a business initiative focused on researching zero-emission autonomous cargo submarines.

During this submarine venture, he worked alongside naval architect Jami Buckley at Ocean Prime Industries. Together, they found that shifting the shipping sector away from oil proved to be exceptionally intricate.

To finance the feasibility study, Mr Sampson has set up a GoFundMe page. He remarked: "Considerable efforts are underway examining electric and hydrogen-fuelled ships. The difficulty lies in how slowly their deployment is progressing."

Councillor Stewart in Swansea believes that introducing a ferry service could not only cut down travel time but also provide significant economic advantages. He stated that the responses gathered thus far from locals and companies have shown "substantial backing" for pursuing this concept further.

Mr Sampson stressed that he would prefer not to have a ferry service between Swansea and south-west England reliant on public funding. He stated: “Our approach is focused on making this a commercially viable venture. While many ferries receive subsidies, I believe these often lead to subpar performance.”