Record spending by CalMac prompts ferry performance summit
Chiefs of Scotland’s leading Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne will be questioned by islanders over the performance of ferry services over the past year.
There have been continuous complaints of cancellations and lengthy delays to the construction of new ships.
4,620 sailings were cancelled for non-weather-related reasons in the 2022/2023 season alone.
Ferry services from North Uist were in turmoil with schedules being cancelled for the whole of June, leaving hundreds of islanders stranded and without essential goods.
Despite ferry services being a devolved power, UK government minister for Scotland, John Lamont, will chair the meeting.
He said: “This meeting can provide an opportunity for CalMac and Transport Scotland to engage more effectively with the people and communities they serve.”
The UK government say they have been monitoring the situation closely, with some believing that they may even re-involve themselves to solve the matter.
CalMac have committed to the spending of new ships with a new fleet which was put to order in 2015 with the MV Glen Sannox and the MV Glen Rosa currently being built at Fergusons shipyard in Port Glasgow.
A 2023 audit revealed that the construction was going to cost at least £240m, meaning that was a record sum of money spent by the company on construction and maintenance work.
CalMac will be put to the sword by CalMac Ferries Communities Board, Colonsay Lifeline Transport Group, Arran Ferry Action Group, Arran Community Development Trust, Mull and Iona Community Trust, and Tobermory Harbour Association – all of whom have vested interest in the performance of the fleet.
