Plans for a ^3m passenger ferry service linking north Devon and south Wales could soon be back on track after the project's original investor pulled out.

Catamaran firm Severn Link had hoped to start the route at Easter but delays in creating Swansea landing facilities led to it being put off until next year.

Then another blow was dealt when the initial investor withdrew.

However, Severn Link founder Chris Marrow has revealed that his firm is now in talks with a new backer.

Mr Marrow said: "We've had quite a bit of interest, but finalising something is pretty difficult. However, we are in the middle of talks with this new potential investor and we hope to have completed negotiations by the end of the year."

As well as wanting to run a 50-minute passenger service between Swansea and Ilfracombe, Severn Link is also considering the feasibility of a route between Cardiff and Minehead in Somerset.

The firm has already conducted sea trials of the catamarans that would be used to cross the Severn Estuary.

Severn ferry plan between south Wales and Devon 'not forgotten'

Plans for a ferry service between south Wales and Devon could still happen despite setbacks, it is claimed.

Severn Link had hoped to start the route between Swansea and Ilfracombe in 2010, and sea trials had been carried out on the catamarans.

Issues over landing facilities and the withdrawal of an investor led to delays, and the vessels were sold.

However, Severn Link founder Chris Marrow said he had not given up and it was still very much a "live project".

"We are still working on it. It's not forgotten but it's quite hard to predict," he said. "I'm loath to give a date. Having almost got started and then disappointed people I'm loath to disappoint them again. We're not talking about this year but, if things fall into place, next year could be a possibility, but it's only a possibility. There's a lot of ducks to get in a row."

The original plan was for a ferry link between Swansea and Ilfracombe, but a service between Cardiff and Minehead was also being considered.

Marine specialist Mr Marrow said that all options were currently being considered.

He said there had been issues over infrastructure, such as the landing facilities in Swansea, and concerns over access at Ilfracombe when there were high winds.

"We are trying to deal with that. If we can deal with that, we could put in a car ferry," he said. "We're working on other things as well. It would be a lot easier if the infrastructure was in place. Having come within weeks of starting and not being able to do so, we have to set up a new business plan and get funding in place."

He said he believed that if the infrastructure was sorted out, then funding would follow. And although the vessels planned for the service have been sold, he added it would be relatively straightforward to buy others.

"The two catamarans were sold. They're with a Russian operator in the Black Sea," he said. "To be honest, it's a buyer's market. I'm getting four or five adverts every day at the moment for ferries. There are vessels about."

Earlier in February, the owners of the Swansea-Cork ferry announced its closure with the loss of 78 jobs, having suspended sailings in November.

Condor Ferries moved its Channel Island sailings from Weymouth to Poole in February after structural problems forced the closure of Weymouth Quay.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said it wanted to reopen the terminal by May next year.

Fast ferry services to the Channel Islands and France are set to return to Weymouth from 17 July 2013.

Three passengers and a crew member on an Isle of Wight ferry were taken to hospital after the upper car deck of the ship collapsed.

The mezzanine floor, which was holding nine cars, was being lowered when it dropped about 6ft on to the deck below.



Three people in their cars and a crew member on the upper deck suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Emergency services were called to Fishbourne terminal on the island just before 22:30 BST on Friday.

Those hurt were taken to St Mary's Hospital in Newport, with the crew member later discharged.

A statement from Wightlink Ferries read: "As part of the usual disembarkation process, after vehicles on the lower deck had left the ship, the starboard forward mezzanine deck with nine cars on board was lowered.

"When it was a short distance from the deck below, it dropped a few feet and made contact with the lower deck.

"A full investigation into the incident is under way. It has been reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and Wightlink is fully co-operating with the authorities."

The ship, the St Helen, last underwent an independent engineering inspection in May, the company said.

The vessel sailed from Portsmouth Gunwharf at 21:30 with 181 passengers and 11 crew onboard.

Passengers on another ferry, the St Clare, had to wait for 90 minutes to dock at Fishbourne while the emergency services, which included police, fire crews, coastguards and ambulance service, attended the scene.

John Burrows, chief operating officer at Wightlink, said the St Helen was brought back to Portsmouth and immediately taken out of service.

He said engineers and safety officers had inspected the firm's fleet before they were cleared to sail on Saturday.

Mr Burrows, who said he has never known of any similar incidents, added he was "comfortable and confident" there will be no repeat.

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

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