The House of Representatives has passed a motion to prevent nighttime transport from Ameland from being cancelled.
The Veltman Marine Service water taxi between Ameland and Holwerd will no longer sail as of January 1, 2023. Everyone on the island is shocked by the proposed decision, which is now the talk of the day on the island. Ferry services are vital for the accessibility of the islands.
Acute emergencies for victims are not endangered when the water taxi stops, because luckily there is still the Wadden helicopter in case of an emergency, or the volunteers of the KNRM. Mayor Leo Pieter Stoel of the island looks at the development with care.
"That this has major consequences for the quality of life and health of many Amelanders."
Together with the province of Friesland, Minister Mark Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management is looking at a possible solution for the water taxi between Ameland and Holwerd. Despite Harbers having advised against the motion submitted by Caroline van der Plas (BBB), it was still put to the vote and received a lot of support in the House of Representatives.
The problems include the maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour for those dark hours. Officially, boats smaller than 20 meters before sunrise and after sunset are not allowed to sail faster than 20 kilometers per hour due to nature legislation. By enforcing those regulations, Veltman would no longer receive a permit to continue the service because the water taxi wants to be faster than what regulations prescribe.
maximum speed
The accessibility of the Wadden Islands is also very important for Rijkswaterstaat and night-time passenger transport is not an issue, provided that the law and regulations are observed, it is always possible. That only means that it is not allowed to sail faster with a water taxi than 20 kilometers per hour. For that reason, operator Richard Veltman cannot obtain a permit for fast sailing at night and at night.
The fairway between Ameland and Holwerd has been a thorny issue for years. Veltman has been providing a fast service between the island and the mainland for 30 years. They were available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In consultation with water taxi companies and municipalities, the possibilities for an exemption for night sailing for specified services must be investigated.
