OPW announces launch of permit competition for boats to Skellig Michael

The Office of Public Works (OPW) today announced the launch of a Public Competition for the award of up to 15 Permits giving Boat Operators the right to ferry visitors to Skellig Michael, the world-renowned Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site located 12 km off the South West Kerry coastline. Successful applicants will be given the right to land visitors on Skellig Michael, where, because of conservation concerns, the number of visitors is strictly limited.

The Competition is designed to fully set out how the Boat Operators will meet the needs of visitors transiting to the island in a safe manner and meeting their needs for excellent customer service. As with previous competitions of this type in 2016 and 2017, applicants will be assessed on issues including the qualifications and experience of the personnel, the quality of the vessel and their approach to excellent standards of safety.

The OPW today placed an advertisement in the media and on their website offering interested parties the opportunity to apply for one of the Permits by completing the relevant application documentation and submitting it to the OPW before the deadline of Monday 21 January 2019. Thereafter, a three person assessment panel will examine all the documentation submitted and announce the 15 successful applicants who will hold the right to land passengers on the Island for up to 3 years, starting in the 2019 visitor season, which will commence in approximately mid-May and will run to the end of September.

ENDS

For further information, please contact OPW Client Services and Communications Unit at opwcsc@opw.ie

Follow us on Twitter @opwireland

Find us on Facebook @opwireland