Lochmaddy ferry terminal
Uncertainty surrounds the new £10 million pier in Lochmaddy after works were suspended.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar awarded the contract to If Irish contractor, Keating Construction, also known as L&M Keating.
The firm told Hebrides News works halted due to Covid-
Workers appeared on site briefly before vanishing again in July.
If Keating fails to restart the project, the contract faces being be retendered.
Delays could easily stretch by 12 months if a new builder has to be secured, warns the council.
The Scottish Government is a major shareholder in the redevelopment project.
The new ferry earmarked for the upgraded berth is languishing, partly built, at the Ferguson Marine base on the Clyde.
Earliest dates for the vessel to take up service is 2023 -
The comhairle awarded the pier improvement job to Keating in January soon after securing funding from Transport Scotland, the ferry arm of the Scottish Government. Works include pier strengthening and extension, upgraded fendering, land reclamation and seabed dredging.
Vital to the project is a huge steel reinforced concrete cassion being built in the Inchgreen dry dock in Greenock. Work on that structure has also ceased. The cassion is needed to form the extension to the existing pier.
Fears are mounting that the company is in difficulties and it appears to have closed its UK office.
Other civil engineering projects involving the firm in its home country of Ireland have also ground to a halt.
A comhairle spokesman said: "The comhairle is currently working with the main works' contractor, L&M Keating Ltd, to identify and evaluate options associated with the need to continue the improvement works at Lochmaddy Pier.
"Construction activities at the Lochmaddy site and at the Inchgreen drydock have been suspended by the contractor in the meantime.
"If these issues can be resolved, we anticipate the contractor restarting construction works in September 2020 with a completion by autumn 2021."
He warned: "If, on the other hand, we are unable to identify a way forward with the existing contractor, the comhairle, in consultation with Transport Scotland as a key shareholder in the project, will have to consider options associated with the re-
"It is possible that this could further delay the completion of the project into Spring 2021."
Marcus Carne, managing director of Keating Construction, said: “Construction-
"We are in discussions with our client about a programme for the completion of works on these projects.”
Uisdean Robertson, the council's transportation chairman said: “We were made aware of the challenges facing the contractor as we came out of the Covid-
"Subject to the outcomes of ongoing discussions with Keating, the comhairle and Transport Scotland will identify a preferred way forward, likely within the next four weeks.
"The further delays to the improvement works are particularly disappointing given the challenges and difficulties faced by all parties in the six months.
"We however remain confident that the necessary improvement works at Lochmaddy will be complete in time to accommodate the new vessel when it enters service.”
The infrastructure upgrade work at Lochmaddy is part of the Skye triangle infrastructure project, which involves significant harbour upgrades at the three ports at Tarbert, Lochmaddy and Uig.
The work is designed to improve and modernise harbour facilities and prepare the way for new vessels.
Clinching the major Western Isles deal was a significant milestone in Keating’s expansion ambitions.
Based in County Clare, Keating has up to 200 employees. Turnover in 2018 was around €60m (£53.7 million).
In January last year, the firm was acquired by Dublin-
Fears new ferry pier faces delay unless contractor commits to restart construction works
28 August 2020