The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. We're reminded of the stushie surrounding Dr Mills's 1999 appointment, and that Mr Sinclair used to run Ailsa Shipbuilding at Troon - ''main supplier of ferries for CalMac''; the company folded shortly after he assumed his Gourock post. Let's tally Kerevan's mistakes. READ MORE: Scandal-hit Ferguson Marine faces being dissolved despite millions of taxpayer money being ploughed into it. They operate on shorter crossings, usually between 5 and 30 minutes, although MV Loch Portain takes 70 minutes to cross the Sound of Harris between Berneray and Leverburgh. Most islands in the west of Scotland rely on services from state-owned CalMac, which operates 34 vessels - the largest fleet in the UK. . MVHebridean Isles, It said that while the Scottish Government must invest in the ferry fleet in the short and long term, it must compensate businesses who have suffered impact from the disruption and build confidence in the Outer Hebrides as a visitor destination "after the negative economic impact of this summer's ferry fiasco". MVLoch Frisa is a former Norled ferry bought by Caledonian MacBrayne in 2021. That is what Kerevan presents as hard news. MV Loch Seaforth, at 116m (381ft) in length the largest vessel in the fleet, operates on the Ullapool to Stornoway, Lewis crossing. Repairs were carried out on the MV Caledonian Isles after an engine failure, The Glen Sannox's construction at Ferguson's shipyard has been troubled, An impression of one of new ferries being built for the Islay route, Privately-run Pentland Ferries has successfully used catamarans to and from Orkney for years, In Denmark, fully-electric ferries are already sailing but only on relatively short routes, Islands like Iona are seeing visitor numbers pick up again, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. But the project has been. She is a double-ender ferry with . An open deck extends right around the vessel on this level, including forward of the observation lounge and overlooking the bow. "However, the meeting left CalMac and Transport Scotland in no doubt that the current situation is unendurable," he said. MVIsle of Arran, It came as islanders complained to CalMac about food shelves being bare as vital supplies were not reaching shops and evidence of panic buying. On Friday it emerged the government faces a 5million bill after losing a High Court case related to takeover of Ferguson's. Meanwhile, a contract to deliver MV Glen Sannox and a sister ferry in 2018 won't now be completed until 2023 with costs doubling to 200million. Duncan Hamilton says he has not spoken to Kerevan for at least three months. Second-hand ferry deal to boost CalMac network, Plug-in and sail: Meet the electric ferry pioneers, Ferry deal collapses over CalMac use of catamaran, Arran ferry out of action following engine failure, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . CalMac is conducting its own internal inquiry and said the. by the paper's associate editor, George Kerevan, was so dire it seems the hapless Kerevan would be hard-pressed to tell a bowloader from a paddle-steamer. This has resulted in some island communities being left relying on a single ferry as some boats were taken off their usual routes to cover other services. Read about our approach to external linking. [3] The first, named MVGlen Sannox is due to enter service at Ardrossan,[4] and is now scheduled for delivery in mid 2023. Never miss the latest top headlines from the Scottish Daily Express. She was built in 2017 by Malakoff Limited in Shetland. She was built in 2015 as Utne and operated for Norled for 6 years. He said he was not aware of any interference by ministers or civil servants in the procurement process. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Highland Seabird, despite carrying 60,000 passengers in a season, proved utterly uneconomic. The server encountered an internal error or Since the SNP took power in 2007, the rate at which new vessels are produced has more than halved. For the new Islay ferries, CMAL has ditched LNG in favour of mainly diesel ships with "fuel efficient hulls" and some electric power options while manoeuvring in port. "Significant investments are being progressed by the Scottish government and its partners.". Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We are doing this to improve the experience forour loyalreaders and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. These vessels usually operate on longer crossings, with high passenger numbers. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. As for uncomfortable ships, we must assume Kerevan has never boarded any of the ''mini-liners'' CalMac have built since the late eighties - our own new Hebrides is a splendid example. Kerevan quotes Captain Norman Martin's testimony to the Scottish Parliament's transport committee, but neglects to explain the context to Martin's seemingly damning remarks on company profit motive: he was outlining the huge burden on CalMac's resources imposed by new, ferocious Maritime and Coastguard. A Norwegian ferry operator has taken delivery of a boat powered by liquid hydrogen - but this is still prototype technology. Video, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The workers who saw the ferries saga unfold, Ten things we learned about the ferries fiasco, Mackay accepts role in 'catastrophic' ferries failure, Overdue ferry sets sail for new construction phase, Ferries deal awarded without financial safeguards. Even the newer ships have had breakdowns - CalMac's biggest ship MV Loch Seaforth, built in 2014, was out of action for weeks last year due to engine damage, with knock-on effects hitting many other services. CalMac's main Arran ferry resumes sailings. Isle of Arran undertook services from Ardrossan to Campbeltown on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, returning on Friday, Saturday (via Brodick) and Sunday, whilst still operating from Ardrossan to Arran outwith its Campbeltown sailings. [16], MVArgyll Flyer (244 passengers) and the catamaran MVAli Cat (250 passengers) are passenger-only ferries used on the Gourock - Dunoon service. This will be closely monitored, with feedback being obtained directly from island communities and local resilience partnerships providing a more rounded assessment of impact than transport operators alone can provide.". The delays have added to pressure on CalMac's old and increasingly unreliable fleet. "Completing the essential overhaul schedule and returning vessels to service is our priority, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.". MVLochnevis is a highly specialised ship serving the Small Isles of Eigg, Canna, Rm and Muck from Mallaig. The documentary learned that last November union representatives told Finance Secretary Kate Forbes they had lost confidence in the senior management team. ''It is a state-owned transport company that does not make a profit on any of its routes.'' She measures 50m (164ft 1in) long by 14.5m (47ft 7in) metres wide. [5], Due to the demand for capacity, a second ferry has supplemented Caledonian Isles during the summer season since 2005. She said Glen Sannox, for the main Arran route . The melodramatic claim that CalMac has lost ''25% of passengers in a decade'' does not fully explain that, since 1995, CalMac has lost its ferry services to Skye, Scalpay, and Bernera (thanks to bridges and a causeway); abandoned summer cruises on the Clyde, and between Mallaig and Kyle of Lochalsh; and been forced, with the big new Outer Isles boat, to abandon calls at Tobermory on Mull. Humza Yousaf takes the lead as SNP members swing behind Nicola Sturgeon's man, The 'worst health secretary in the history of devolution' is just ahead of his rivals in the SNP leadership contest, although a third of Nat members still don't know who to vote for, Ian Blackford 'looking forward' to end of police probe into SNP's 'murky' finances as he dodges Peter Murrell question. The Arran route, where the first ship was due to enter service in 2018, has faced more than 2,500 cancellations in the past five years. MV Caledonian Isles (Scottish Gaelic: Eileanan Chaledonia) is one of the largest ships owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited.She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), which runs ferries to the Hebridean and Clyde Islands of Scotland. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. [1] She normally undertakes up to 5 crossings a day in each direction, leaving Ardrossan at 0700, 0945, 1230, 1515 and 1800, and leaving Brodick at 0820, 1105, 1355, 1640 and 1920. On services where capacity is affected, we would encourage those customers who are able to do so, make reservations as foot passengers. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. There is no standard over 60s ticket, but there are concessions available for islanders in certain areas. The cost to the public purse has risen to 2.5 times the original 97m budget - and the first ship won't be handed over to CalMac until the spring of 2023 at the earliest, nearly five years late. The Jupiter, for instance, may have wooden decks, but she played no part in the evacuation of Dunkirk, nor was Vasco da Gama ever captain of her. This peak summer service originally operated between June and August however, due to demand, operates from May to September since 2013. [citation needed], On first coming into service, Caledonian Isles usually berthed overnight at Ardrossan in the summer and at Brodick in the winter timetable. For the latest politics news, click here. MVHebrides, Scottish Government-controlled ferry operator Calmac were forced to make moves to provide an emergency ferry from one of Scotlands busiest routes to Mull to serve the stricken islands in the Outer Hebrides. It said: "We have had visitors cancel their holidays, leaving accommodation and activities providers with late cancellations, no fresh food in supermarkets, restaurants struggling to get supplies, visitors sleeping in cars and village halls, visitors re-routed hundreds of milesand the list goes on. [19] This allows her to berth a considerable distance from slipways, protecting her exposed Azipod propulsion systems in shallow waters. The article. heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment. I have a baby who is now on cows milk but Im only able to do my shopping once a week due to having three kids on my own while my partner works. The shipyard was allowed to significantly change its design halfway through the tender by developing a variant mentioned but discounted in its original submission. The new ships will replace 37-year-old MV Hebridean Isles and allow the 11-year-old MV Finlaggan, to be redeployed. ", Mr Drummond responded: "We are prioritising food deliveries and weve shipped everything the local haulier has asked for. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Teaching strikes reprieve in doubt as union blasts 14% pay rise as 'paltry'. It's untrue that Ailsa of Troon supplied most CalMac ferries - of the present operational fleet, Ferguson's of Port Glasgow constructed seven; Lamont's, six, Richard Dunstan (Hessle) four, and Ailsa only three. Of the 10 largest ferries, four are more than 30 years old and the MV Isle of Arran is 39. During the period of the summer timetable there is an additional sailing on Friday evenings, leaving Ardrossan at 2030, returning from Brodick at 2140. "People aren't stupid, they know that there is not ferry and there is usually a daily lorry with fresh stuff. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Representatives told the programme they became increasingly worried about the growing number of managers being taken on, which they felt undermined long-term competitiveness, with little evidence of progress. We need to do something different, because the government isn't interested in helping us. John Kerr, a former CalMac technical director who was asked to review some of the leaked documents, was surprised Ferguson was then allowed to submit a revised, far lighter design after the tender deadline, describing it as effectively "a new bid". Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) vessels can be readily identified by their black hulls and white superstructures. Deputy First Minister John Swinney said he was concerned by the BBC's findings and would look into the matter further. It is now understood while the Scottish Government has come under increasing fire over a failure to deal with the ferries crisis, it is now considering setting up a compensation fund for islands using fines it has imposed on CalMac for underperformance. MVLord of the Isles is based in Mallaig and serves Armadale and South Uist. The Times reports an equally bleak picture across the CalMac fleet in terms of upkeep and new vessels. The government then appointed a "turnaround director", Tim Hair, who reported it would cost an extra 110m to finish the vessels. Read about our approach to external linking. Readers comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. MVIsle of Mull, VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Any shortages may be down to supermarket supply chain issues.. So I buy plenty milk in to last me. The Scottish government's Transport Scotland agency has long known it needs to renew the CalMac fleet - but those ambitions have foundered, in part at least, due to the Ferguson ferry fiasco. MV Hebrides was first removed from service in mid-June due to a problem with its fire-fighting system. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. CalMac's chairman Dr Harold Mills and chief executive Lawrie Sinclair are identified for wounding, personal criticism. Last year the Scottish government promised 580m of investment in Scotland's ferry network over the next five years - about half of it for new ships - but some claim, given the scale of the problem, that's nowhere near enough. ], she usually berths overnight at Ardrossan all year. The current chief executive of CMAL, Kevin Hobbs, declined to be interviewed and when confronted by BBC Disclosure about the findings, made no comment. Residents on Mull have urged Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth to consider a system used for the Danish island of Samso where are proportion of spaces are held back for locals, based on evidence of demand. If the mezzanine decks are fully deployed there is insufficient height to accommodate lorries and other high vehicles other than at the bow and stern. They were nicknamed the "streakers", because of their speed and ability to manoeuvre rapidly both at sea and in port. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com. Ferguson copied a large section of its bid from a CalMac document. A spokeswoman for CalMac added: "A long-term strategy to replace vessels and improve port infrastructure would improve the capacity we can offer to meet demand and increase resilience. Find out more about Safer Travel with CalMac. Audit Scotland said the BBC's investigation raised "serious questions" about the use of public money. It means that Glen Sannox will now be five years late and will not see service till between March and May 2023 at the earliest, while Hull 802 is not due to set sail till between October and December 2023. If Kerevan believes CalMac fares are extortionate, he should take a van to Shetland, or fly from Glasgow to Stornoway. A mere 7cm (3in) shorter, MVLoch Fyne and MVLoch Dunvegan were built for the Skye crossing. CalMac have insisted that all food was being shipped and said it was not fair to say that any shortages were the direct result of the ferry issues. CMAL has previously said that Ferguson was named preferred bidder because it produced the most detailed concept design, outscoring other shipyards on quality even though it was the most expensive. Others have already leapt upon Kerevan's vagueness. "A tug has sunk in the Clyde off Greenock." Unbelievable ! "For others that can only do a once-weekly shop how can they when we have no supplies on the islands. The Scottish Government's investment plan is hoping to bring the average age of the fleet to 15 years. [1] She was built for and has run on the Largs to Cumbrae route since 2007. MVFinlaggan, and From May to September 2013, MVIsle of Arran could carry its full capacity throughout the week, doubling the service to Arran from Monday to Wednesday. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself. CalMac, apparently, runs a ''lucrative monopoly'', threatened by ''up to a dozen rivals who are expected to bid for the state-owned company's network'', according to a ''leading maritime expert'', Professor Neil Kay of Strathclyde University. The latest ferry route lockdown has sparked serious concerns about islands getting the essentials - with some islands, particularly South Uist reliant on a daily lorry crossing to supply shops. To qualify for concessionary SPT ferry fares, you must live permanently (or own, and pay council tax, in respect of a 2nd home) on one of the islands covered by the scheme or live on the . Dr Mills's appointment as chairman did attract fierce criticism - not least an unpleasant vendetta from the West Highland Free Press - but the commissioner for public appointments, who made full investigation, declared no impropriety had occurred. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Jim McColl confirmed to BBC Disclosure that he first looked into buying Fergusons at least two months before it went bust. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Scarcely a major ship in the network sails without a Harrisman; island sea skills draw on generations of experience. [7] The streakers' removal from Rothesay was delayed by pier work to install an end-loading linkspan, allowing full ro-ro operation. . CalMac, the state-owned ferry company, has decided motorhomes, camper vans and caravans will only be allowed on their services if they have a confirmed reservation, in a bid to placate. "You would think they can just put another ferry on but then they say they can't, just suck it up. CalMac says its maintenance budget has risen by 67% over the past five years, with a projected spend of 34.2m in 2022.