Island ferry provides challenge for designer

摘要

The idea of a ferry going over the sea to Skye is not a new one, according to David Gray of Scottish naval architect practice Ace Marine, although with the Skye bridge opening a few years ago, it is not, the company says, an adventure many people undertake these days. A small car ferry operates in the south of the island, and a large car ferry takes people over from Uig in the north west corner of Skye to the Outer Hebridean islands of Lewis and Barra. There had however, long been talk of a possible passenger service linking the North of Skye to the Scottish mainland at Gairloch. A feasibility study was carried out by the local council, after which some local businessmen pulled together to form a new company in 2003 called West Highland Seaways Ltd, trading as 6degs west.