How it ensures that ferry service contracts deliver vessels that are able to operate reliably in the weather conditions that prevail on the…

Each contract specifies the vessels to be deployed and contains detailed provisions for their maintenance and operation.
The provisions of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract require the operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd, to use the fleet funded by the Scottish Government and owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. These vessels are designed and constructed for the specific challenges of the CHFS network. An exemption was secured from the European Commission from the general rule that the use of specified vessels would normally be considered discriminatory against potential bidders for a contract who wish to deploy their own vessels.
For other ferry service contracts awarded by the Scottish Ministers, bidders can choose to use vessels put at their disposal by the Scottish Government or to propose their own vessel solutions. In those cases, or in cases where the Scottish Government is not offering vessels for use, the requirements for vessels are set out in the service specification issued to bidders. These requirements form part of the minimum requirements that every bid must meet. Compliance with the terms of the specification is assessed by the tender evaluation panel which includes or takes advice from maritime technical experts.