Ferry company helped by House of Lords

8:03am Sunday 27th January 2008

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THE operators of the King Harry Ferry and Falmouth Park and Ride say they are delighted after they were offered a lifeline in the House of Lords over new licensing regulations.

The new regulations introduced a year ago, but still not fully implemented, mean that new applicants for a Boatmaster's Licence are required to study technical aspects of stability and big ship management quite inappropriate to their vessels.

It also means that staff need to have accrued so much time at sea as to make recruitment of seasonal staff, in particular, difficult - if not impossible.

In reply to a question from Fowey Harbour Commissioner, Lord Berkeley, transport minister Baroness Crawley stated that, in response to concerns raised by many small seasonal operators, the Government are minded to re-introduce a local licence similar to the tried and tested format that existed previously. This should ensure that boatmen are assessed in a manner, and to a standard, appropriate to their type of route and vessel.

There will now be the usual process of consultation and it is hoped that a change to the new law will take effect within 12 months.

Tim Light from Cornwall Ferries Ltd said: "We are delighted that Lord Berkley seems to have grasped the situation by the horns and we look forward to working with our local MCA team to ensure that the momentum is maintained.'