Ocean Prime Industries Ltd is set to release a shortlist of potential locations for a proposed ferry service connecting Swansea and the south-west of England in a report next January.
The company is currently conducting a 12-month feasibility study into the idea of a sea connection. Despite being in the early stages, the firm's CEO and founder, Dave Sampson, says he is considering a 55m long ship capable of carrying passengers, cars, and some cargo at speeds up to 40 knots.
The proposed ferry would be zero-emission, powered by an electric powertrain, and operate on clean energy, boasting a relatively shallow draught.
At this point, Mr Sampson confirmed that Swansea is the only definite destination if the project moves forward. Regarding other potential stops across the Bristol Channel and Celtic Sea, he stated: "We are not ruling anything in or out."
Mr Sampson emphasised that the service would need to run throughout the year, and destinations would need to have a vehicle ramp and ideally a shore power supply. He clarified: "We wouldn't be building a big terminal."
The concept of a Bristol Channel ferry service isn't new. A fast service named Severnlink, intended to link Swansea and Ilfracombe in north Devon, nearly launched in 2010 but faced funding issues.
Three years ago, Rob Stewart, the head of Swansea Council, expressed support for a hydrogen-powered ferry. The council has since allocated some º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government Shared Prosperity Fund money to Ocean Prime Industries for a feasibility study.
Proponents argue that passengers would save time usually spent on the M4 and M5, and tourism would receive a boost.
Mr Sampson revealed that around 4,000 people have responded to a public consultation on the ferry proposal since its launch in early March, with approximately 98% in favour. The remaining responses were either "maybes" or "noes".
He noted that supporters wanted the option to bring their cars and desired good public transport links. The "maybes", he said, generally liked the idea but sought more information, while the "noes" believed it had been tried before and wouldn't work.
"I quite like the 'noes', they tell us more than the 'yesses'," he added.
However, it's not just the public who have shown interest. Mr Simpson said: "It's been really fascinating – some large shipping companies have contacted us, logistics companies have contacted us, fuel companies have been in touch , and we've had marine engineers expressing an interest in working with us.
"We've been massively heartened by the whole thing."
Further engagement is planned in the coming months, along with traffic data analysis, additional research into º£½ÇÊÓƵ and international ferry services, and financial viability assessments.
A final report is scheduled to be presented to Swansea Council next January, to determine the economic viability and potential benefits of a ferry service for the region. Mr Sampson has cautioned that there may not be enough demand to make it viable.
Describing the challenging conditions in the Bristol Channel, which turns into the Celtic Sea towards the west, Mr Sampson noted that while waves can hit towering heights of up to 10m between Swansea and North Devon, they are typically between one-metre to 1.5m.
"There would be days when we wouldn't be able to run a service," he said. "The intention is to run it as much as possible. It's very difficult commercially to run a service which just operates in the summer.
"Part of the design of the ferry is to look at this, and make the crossing as smooth as possible in as many sea conditions as possible."
Adding to the complexity is the Bristol Channel's significant tidal range, particularly further east, complicating access to low-water harbours.
However, Mr Sampson remains open to possibilities, citing Cornwall or Pembrokeshire as potential destinations, and perhaps even Rosslare in southeast Ireland should there be strong backing for a Swansea service. "This is all about customer demand," he added.
On the subject of emissions, Mr Sampson recognised the project's ambitious eco-friendly goals but acknowledged the difficulties. "It would be easier if we said we were going to do a hybrid diesel, or some other hybrid," he said.
Ocean Prime Industries' website has indicated that the prospect of low-emission passenger ferry services is becoming increasingly feasible. The company suggests that zero emissions could be achieved by using hydrogen as a power source, provided renewable energy is used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The firm is actively seeking technologies that can enhance ship efficiency, some of which may not have hit the market yet but are expected to do so within the next couple of years.
When questioned about whether he envisioned a single ferry or multiple, Mr Sampson suggested starting with one. He also speculated that there might be potential for the ferry to transport workers involved in proposed tidal lagoon and offshore wind projects.
A Swansea Bay tidal lagoon is currently under consideration as part of a broader energy and infrastructure project, along with a tidal lagoon proposal between Minehead and Watchet on the opposite side of the channel. One element of the Somerset lagoon would involve a new ferry terminal at Minehead for a small roll-on roll-off ferry.
Concurrently, several ports are exploring how they might benefit from a new government-supported floating offshore wind industry planned in the Celtic Sea.
Mr Sampson, a graduate of marine biology from Swansea University and holder of a master's degree in aquaculture and fisheries management from the University of Stirling, has had a diverse career. His experiences range from working at a trout farm to being head of marketing at mobile phone firm 3, engaging in overseas development, and leading a commercial project investigating zero-emission autonomous cargo submarines.
It was during this submarine project that he collaborated with naval architect Jami Buckley at Ocean Prime Industries. They discovered that transitioning the shipping industry away from oil was "exceptionally complex".
In an effort to fund the feasibility study, Mr Sampson has established a GoFundMe webpage. He commented: "A lot of work is being done looking at electric and hydrogen-powered vessels. The challenge is that it's taking a long time to be deployed."
Cllr Stewart in Swansea has expressed his belief that a ferry could not only reduce travel times but also bring economic benefits. According to him, the feedback received so far from residents and businesses indicated "overwhelming support" for further exploration of the idea.
Mr Sampson emphasised that he would not want a ferry service from Swansea to south-west England to depend on public subsidy. He said: "We are looking at this as a commercial operation. I know there are a lot of ferries that are subsidised, I don't think they're always doing a particularly good job because of it."
