Torpoint Ferry Refits 2023-2025

The Torpoint Ferry Service is the largest chain ferry operation in the world, carrying 2.4 million vehicles and 800 thousand foot passengers a year. It operates three chain ferries linking Plymouth with South East Cornwall, each vessel has a length of 48 metres and breadth of 20 metres and can carry up to 73 cars and 140 foot passengers.

Every five years each of the three Torpoint ferries requires a mandatory dry docking to allow a survey of the underwater hull to ensure the material state is sufficient to safely last a further five years, to enable classification society and Marine Coastguard Agency surveys together with essential maintenance and modifications.

Cornwall Council is leading this procurement to procure ferry refits on behalf of its Joint Authority owners in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Open Tender procedure, with the intention to let a framework contract covering three refits taking place in April 2023, April 2024 and April 2025. The contracted work package for each refit to include the tow from Torpoint to the refitting shipyard and the return and the refits cycle time should be no greater than 30 calendar days from removal of each Ferry from its chains to reinstatement and full return to service.

The objective is to provide a period in dry dock for essential dock dependent ferry maintenance and modifications together with inspections of other key equipment and systems by Lloyds Register, a third party quality assurance organisation. This statutory requirement and satisfactory completion is required before the issue of a Chain Ferry Certificate by the regulatory authority, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The aim at the completion of a refit is to provide a ferry that is of a sufficient material state to allow issue of a Chain Ferry Certificate and give five years high availability operational service without significant breakdown or other major maintenance requirements in line with the specification.

Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee (TB&TF) will provide the technical supervisory role at the refit location. There will be a requirement to integrate TB&TF staff maintenance activity, within the overarching refit project management plan. TB&TF will assist with provision of certain spare parts and also will advise on particular specialist sub- contractors that may be required to undertake specific tasks.