Planning permission is being sought for a €30 million Cork harbour commuter ferry service.
An application for permission is to be submitted for a water taxi service linking the lower harbour and Cork city before the end of this month. The scheme proposes a regular run between Cobh and Cork, stopping off at Monkstown and Passage West. A second route would link Cobh with Crosshaven, Aghada and Whitegate. The boats to service the route are to be low-wash catamaran ferries developed in Singapore and used with success on the Thames in London. Each boat can carry 235 passengers and can accommodate bicycles.
The ferry station at Passage West is planned to be off Steam Packet Quay, while that at Monkstown will be off the Bosun car park.
The lower harbour terminus will be at the town hall in Cobh. It is hoped that the water taxi service will be running by March 2010. The vessels are expected to make the journey from Cobh to Cork city centre in 35 minutes. They will be in operation from 7am to 10pm daily.
The Harbour Cats project is set to be a privately operated ferry taxi service.
Senior executives at the company have met with representatives of the Port of Cork and local authority officials to discuss their plans.
The planning application will be available for inspection at Cork County Council and Cobh Town Council.