The launch of the latest Kintyre Express ferry will strengthen trade, tourism and cultural bonds between Scotland and Northern Ireland, bosses say.
The passenger ferry service’s new Redbay Stormforce 1150 rigid inflatable boat (RIB), and one for Crinan-based boat tour operator Venture West, were launched from Ballycastle Marina by Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Afterwards, attendees were invited to a reception at the Manor House hotel on Rathlin Island, with guests including Jane MacLeod, Lord-Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute, and Colin Craig, managing director of Craig of Campbeltown Ltd which incorporates Kintyre Express, as well as West Coast Motors and a fleet of other bus and coach companies.
Mr Craig said: “Receiving the new KE6 from Redbay Boats marks an exciting chapter for Kintyre Express.
“This investment not only enhances our service but strengthens the vital links between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“Our goal is to offer more frequent crossings, reinforcing the economic and cultural ties that bind our communities together.
“Additionally, this improved service will undoubtedly boost tourism, linking the popular destinations of Ballycastle, Islay, and Kintyre, and providing both tourists and locals with easier access to the rich heritage and attractions each location has to offer, including world famous golf courses and a fantastic choice of renowned whisky distilleries.”
Established in 2009, Kintyre Express is a pivotal player in facilitating seamless transportation between Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the company’s passenger ferry service connecting Campbeltown, Port Ellen on Islay and Ballycastle on the Antrim Coast.
This is the sixth vessel procured from Redbay Boats by Kintyre Express in the last 13 years and represents the company’s continued support of manufacturing in Northern Ireland.
Argyll and Bute received more than 1.3 million day-trippers and more than 460,000 overnight visitors in 2022, according to the Scotland Visitor Survey 2023.
Kintyre Express is responding to consumer demand by extending the tourist reach of visitors to Scotland’s West Coast by providing accessible travel to the Glens of Antrim, Rathlin Island and the Causeway Coast.
Venture West is also a long-standing customer of Redbay Boats, with ‘Far West’ being the eighth vessel the company has acquired since 2006.
Managing director Sandy Campbell says he is delighted to continue working with the team.
He added: “This will be our second 1150m model in operation. As a leading tourism operator specialising in adventure travel, we will leverage the Stormforce 1150 to offer unforgettable experiences along Scotland’s rugged coastline.”
As one of Argyll’s leading boat charter companies, Venture West allows guests to discover the breathtaking coastlines, hidden coves, and picturesque islands of Scotland’s Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and Loch Lomond.
The investment of both Argyll companies will help to secure jobs in Ballycastle, enhance the vitality of Ballycastle Harbour as a commercial port, promote the ecology and the sea bird sanctuary on Rathlin Island, give greater access to golf in Northern Ireland, and extend the whisky tourist trail from Campbeltown and Islay to Bushmills, the Glens of Antrim and the newly proposed Lir Whiskey Distillery in Cushendall.
Tom McLaughlin, managing director of Redbay Boats, said: “Redbay Boats is thrilled to collaborate with Venture West and Kintyre Express to introduce the Stormforce 1150.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to promoting tourism and fostering connections between Scotland’s West Coast and the North of Ireland.
“We believe that the Stormforce 1150 will not only enhance travel experiences but also contribute to economic growth and cultural exchange in both regions.”
Based in Cushendall, County Antrim, Redbay Boats Limited has been a family-run business for 47 years and employs more than 30 craftspeople in a modern 20,000 square foot factory manufacturing bespoke commercial and leisure RIBs that have been sold in more than 20 international markets.
The design and quality of the boats are considered best-in-class and have proven themselves to be the most capable RIB on the global market for offshore use, with boats currently in service from Svalbard in the Arctic Circle to Bermuda in the Atlantic.
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