Fast ferries going, gone: island vessels for auction

TWO VIRTUALLY new fast ferries built to serve the Aran Islands are due to be auctioned in Galway next month after the company which owned them went into receivership.

The two aluminium monohull fast ferries, MV Clann Eagle I and MV Clann na nOileáin were constructed in France five years ago at a total value of between 5 and 6 million.

They were built for Bád Arann Teoranta, trading as Aran Islands Direct, from Rossaveal, Co Galway. The company’s owner, James Clancy, was sent to prison for 14 days last year for contempt of court in relation to information on his financial affairs.

Mr Clancy was owner of Clanview Construction, and has business and property interests in Galway, Laois, Offaly and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Clanview Construction went into receivership after Anglo Irish Bank sought repayment of several million euro due to it.

Liam Dowdall of accountancy firm Smith Williamson Freaney was appointed receiver for Bád Arann Teo, and has appointed Cork auctioneer Dominic Daly to auction the two ferries. The company has assets valued at 4.3 million, but owed almost 6 million to creditors.

The two ferries have “low engine hours”, a speed capability of 19 knots, and are in very good condition, according to Mr Daly, who has them on view at Rossaveal, Co Galway. They can be sold in one or two lots at the auction on February 24th in Galway’s Harbour Hotel, he said.

The Aran Islands are still served by Island Ferries, the main operator, from Rossaveal, and well as by air with Aer Arann from Indreabhán.

Island Ferries is currently involved in legal action with the Government over an increase in harbour charges.

About 250,000 people take a ferry every year to the islands. The State has recently invested €15 million building three pontoons and ancillary facilities for passenger ferries at Rossaveal.