GOUROCK LINKSPAN REOPENS FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has completed essential maintenance work on the linkspan at Gourock Ferry Terminal and it has reopened to foot passengers.
The linkspan was closed for a temporary period from Wednesday 4th to Monday 9th December to complete repairs on the maintenance access platforms and ladders and replace a hydraulic lifting cylinder. The work was completed two days ahead of schedule and the linkspan was handed back to Calmac on Saturday 7th December. Some minor works are ongoing, but the linkspan is open and work will take place between vessel sailings.
The cylinder replacement was required to facilitate the winter arrival of MV Coruisk, which is deployed on the Gourock route from mid-December to the end of the winter timetable. Without the cylinder replacement, vessels ramps would have been unable to land on the linkspan. The linkspan is now able to be used by MV Coruisk, MV Argyle and MV Bute for foot passengers only.
The linkspan will remain closed to vehicle loading. A review is being conducted to investigate the feasibility of accepting vehicle loading and use by additional vessels. A report from the review is expected in early 2020.
Ramsay Muirhead, Director of Port Infrastructure and Planning at CMAL, said:
“This work will hopefully provide some resilience for the linkspan and the ferry service over the winter months. We will continue to review the linkspan to identify further work that may allow vehicles to use it.”
CMAL is in discussion with Transport Scotland about finalising a masterplan for Gourock Ferry Terminal.
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