One, by ferry operator CalMac, found that a rival bid from a Polish shipyard best met its requirements, while an independent naval architect noted that FMEL's initial design was heavier and less efficient than the others. . Back in 2015, the 97m order was seen as a lifeline for Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow - the. While few dispute the need for new ferries, there is far less consensus on what type of vessels should be purchased. 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. In an accompanying feature he pours on the spite. Like them, CalMac provides essential services no host of cherry-pickers could equal. The central casing means that she can only carry one lane of commercial vehicles down each side of the car deck. When he later agreed to buy the yard, he said there were "no sweeteners" - but that he insisted on a letter from Alex Salmond promising a 12m order for a small CalMac ferry to enable him to re-employ the workers. The new ships will replace 37-year-old MV Hebridean Isles and allow the 11-year-old MV Finlaggan, to be redeployed. Nor is there a quote from a member of the Scottish Executive. During adverse weather conditions, Caledonian Isles has been diverted to Gourock. Michael Beales men were desperate to put last weeks 2-1 Hampden defeat behind them and faced a Kilmarnock side crying out for success on the road. Read about our approach to external linking. More than seven years later those ships, Glen Sannox and the as yet un-named hull 802, are still under construction at the now-nationalised Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow. Vessels are owned by the asset holding company Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, which is in turn wholly owned by the Scottish Government. Teaching strikes reprieve in doubt as union blasts 14% pay rise as 'paltry'. CalMac warns of further disruption to ferry service due to lack of backup ferries, Scottish lags misuse 4.1million taxpayer-funded mobile phones more than 7,000 times in three years, More than 4,082 inmates have been caught out for using mobile phones paid for by the taxpayers to commit crimes while in prison, Iconic Glasgow bakery Mortons Rolls 'ceases all trading' after 58 years. Please contact the server administrator at As it is one of CalMac's busiest routes, Caledonian Isles has the . Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route. She is a bow loading vessel of similar design to the Island Class vessels and can take twelve passengers and one car, although due to vehicle restrictions on Kerrera she rarely carries cars. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. It's getting worse every year and they are building only one new ferry. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee has urged Transport Scotland to buy MV Pentalina. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's It came as islanders complained to CalMac about food shelves being bare as vital supplies were not reaching shops and evidence of panic buying. Western Ferries competes directly on the Clyde's Gourock-Dunoon service; a private operator runs an alternative Skye ferry, and other car ferries at Jura, Luing, and Corran are run by local authorities. And it insists it remains on the lookout for suitable second hand boats. Millions of public pounds were sunk in badly-sited terminals and an inadequate new ferry. Find out more about Safer Travel with CalMac. . An open deck extends right around the vessel on this level, including forward of the observation lounge and overlooking the bow. MVHebridean Isles, This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. The following year his new firm, Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL), won a 97m contract to build two dual fuel LNG vessels for state-owned ferry operator CalMac. CalMac is ''renowned for its high prices, uncomfortable boats, and disregard for customers . "They are all working hard to support our customers through this period - although disruptions are frustrating, please remember to treat them with respect. The BBC understands Ferguson obtained the document from design consultants it had hired to help with its bid. A leaked dossier has suggested the process of awarding a 97m Scottish ferries contract may have been rigged. [9], On 16 March 2019 Caledonian Isles rammed the pier at Brodick after her bow thrusters failed, causing significant damage to her bow visor. The present MV Clansman is the fifth vessel to carry the name in the CalMac fleet over the years. The government then appointed a "turnaround director", Tim Hair, who reported it would cost an extra 110m to finish the vessels. Agency safety regulations. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The Arran route, where the first ship was due to enter service in 2018, has faced more than 2,500 cancellations . In February 2012, Caledonian Isles was in dry-dock to repair damage sustained in a collision with Winton Pier, Ardrossan. The truth is brutal. [5], Due to the demand for capacity, a second ferry has supplemented Caledonian Isles during the summer season since 2005. They were made redundant by the opening of the Skye Bridge and eventually found redeployment elsewhere. Yet it is false to say that ''not one of Caledonian MacBrayne's 29 vessels'' makes a profit. The two ferries are still being built for CalMac, but will be at least 150m over budget and five years late. This peak summer service originally operated between June and August however, due to demand, operates from May to September since 2013. She is a double-ender ferry with . Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. MVFinlaggan and MVHebridean Isles serve Islay from Kennacraig. [10] MVSaturn last served Dunoon on 29 June 2011, and was then scheduled to operate the summer relief on the Arran crossing. 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. More: Kerevan and his paper attack not a company, but a community. 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. Most are symmetrical when viewed from the side, with no operational bow or stern. [1] Now[when? 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. tony bloom starlizard. [7] The streakers' removal from Rothesay was delayed by pier work to install an end-loading linkspan, allowing full ro-ro operation. [1] The 2 larger lifeboats were replaced in 2017 to make way for the new marine evacuation system. On services where capacity is affected, we would encourage those customers who are able to do so, make reservations as foot passengers. With reports that some had taken to sleeping in cars because of the ferry meltdown, the North Uist Agricultural Show organisers circulated news on Tuesday that the Hosta Hall would be left open till 7pm for anyone who needs somewhere to shelter. It added that some staff employed at the time had now left. This happened on 4 January 2012, following storm damage to the linkspan at Ardrossan.[6]. The troubled ships being still being built at Port Glasgow were meant to be "green ferries", using dual-fuel diesel and liquified natural gas (LNG) engines. CalMac said told The Herald: "Our team is working hard to provide alternative solutions. MV Loch Seaforth. A key section of its bid was mostly cut-and-pasted from this longer document. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) vessels can be readily identified by their black hulls and white superstructures. We are lucky at The Herald. MVChieftain is a passenger-only vessel leased from Clyde Marine to operate the Gourock to Kilcreggan service since June 2020. The Times reports an equally bleak picture across the CalMac fleet in terms of upkeep and new vessels. The ten key vessels are MV Isle of Arran, MV Hebridean Isles, MV Isle of Mull, MV Lord of the Isles, MV Caledonian Isles, MV Isle of Lewis, MV Clansman, MV Hebrides, MV Finlaggan, and MV Loch Seaforth. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. A new ferries plan is being promised by the Scottish government by the end of this year. Islanders' anger at wider ferry disruption. Under the law, refunds must be provided within seven days but given the unprecedented effects of coronavirus, we advise allowing ferry companies more time to process refunds. Abby Coleman added: "This is getting ridiculous, having limited supplies in shops, being limited to one bottle of milk, which sadly is unrealistic for some. MV Loch Seaforth, at 116m (381ft) in length the largest vessel in the fleet, operates on the Ullapool to Stornoway, Lewis crossing. His 454-day tenure in the role cost the taxpayer almost 1.3m but BBC Disclosure has learned that it ended in more disillusionment for the workforce. 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. A Gannett Company. Sign up to our daily newsletter here. In Denmark, fully-electric ferries are already sailing but only on relatively short routes. The ferries, formerly operated by Argyll Ferries, were acquired when the company was incorporated into Caledonian MacBrayne in January 2019.[17]. The additional service was provided by MVSaturn from 2005 until 2011, and by MVIsle of Arran from 2012. The West Highland ferry network must operate as one, to allow cross-subsidy of routes and a fleet large enough to cover for breakdown and overhaul. 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. ", Mr Drummond responded: "We are prioritising food deliveries and weve shipped everything the local haulier has asked for. [1] The largest and newest, MVLoch Shira, is 54.27 by 13.90m (178ft 1in by 45ft 7in) and can carry 32 cars and 250 passengers. We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments. 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.