On services where capacity is affected, we would encourage those customers who are able to do so, make reservations as foot passengers. They have red funnels with black caps that display the Lion Rampant badge with masts in buff. The 0700 sailing from Ardrossan the following morning is then cancelled. In 1974 the average life of a ferry was 13 years old. The group said on Thursday in a message to CalMac's managing director Robbie Drummond and Ms Gilruth: "Maybe the plan is that without visitors we wont need many supplies. Audit Scotland said the BBC's investigation raised "serious questions" about the use of public money. Readers comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. The engine is currently being repaired, flushed and inspected. 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. The much delayed MVGlen Sannox is expected to serve Arran from 2022,[2][3][4] replacing MVIsle of Arran and allowing Caledonian Isles to become the second ferry on the Ardrossan-Brodick and the Ardrossan-Campbeltown crossings. 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. "Our dedicated frontline staff will continue to work with local communities to understand and support their priorities. During the summer 2012 period, the capacity was limited to 12 passengers for HGV drivers during the week, whilst a full passenger service was provided on Saturdays. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? On Friday, as MV Isle of Mull was brought in the North Uist Community Pressure Group tweeted that it was hopeful that vital food supplies would arrive. in the server error log. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. THE owner of Scotland's ferry fleet demanded a foreign firm pay up to 100,000 to gain UK maritime approval for a 9m vessel it was negotiating to buy to ease chaos on the network ending in the. CalMac is ''renowned for its high prices, uncomfortable boats, and disregard for customers . . We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com. But two days later, CalMac decided to reshuffle its pack by moving MV Isle of Mull from the Oban to Craignure on Mull route - one of the busiest - leaving Mull served by the much smaller MV Coruisk. Back in 2012, a ferries plan included a programme of vessel replacement. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. A leaked dossier has suggested the process of awarding a 97m Scottish ferries contract may have been rigged. Modelled on the popular MVIsle of Mull of five years earlier, Caledonian Isles incorporates a fully enclosed car deck with watertight ramps at either end. CalMac is conducting its own internal inquiry and said the. MVHebridean Isles, MVLoch Frisa is a former Norled ferry bought by Caledonian MacBrayne in 2021. [5] The second, Hull 802, is as yet unnamed. There are three main shops, one on South Uist, one in Benbecula and one on North Uist. They are doing their best in challenging circumstances. CalMac said told The Herald: "Our team is working hard to provide alternative solutions. [11], During her annual overhaul in 2022, unexpected steelworks were required, delaying the vessel's return to service. He sent in senior staff to examine business opportunities but felt there were too many issues that needed "tidying up" and waited until it fell into administration. [12] Argyll Ferries purchased MVAli Cat and a former Irish boat renamed MVArgyll Flyer to serve the route. Highland Seabird, despite carrying 60,000 passengers in a season, proved utterly uneconomic. These vessels usually operate on the longer crossings, with high passenger numbers. But CalMac has a problem - the pace of renewal has been slow and the ageing boats are developing more faults, leading to delays and cancellations. SUNK BY CALMAC 'Weather-shy' ferry service could spell ruin for isle seafood firm, risking 100 jobs 2021-04-01 - By John Jeffay . Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. The company provides lifeline services to 23 islands off the west coast of Scotland, as well as operating routes in the Firth of Clyde. If you run your business the way Calmac operate ferries, you would go bust a long time ago, because the customers will say you don't are.". More information about this error may be available But in reality one bottle will not last a baby one week nor would it last a full family same with other foods. "They are all working hard to support our customers through this period - although disruptions are frustrating, please remember to treat them with respect. Initially scheduled to return to service on 2nd February,[14] she experienced significant delays during overhaul due to additional steel work and engine repairs being required. [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 company, based in Drumchapel, has reportedly ceased all trading with its annual results currently overdue by more than two months. During adverse weather conditions, Caledonian Isles has been diverted to Gourock. MVCoruisk is a 65m (213ft) "sheltered water vessel", operating on the Mallaig to Armadale route in summer, and relieving on the Clyde in winter. A problem with the firefighting equipment on MV Lord of the Isles has forced CalMac to withdraw it from service for and estimated eight days from the Mallaig-Lochboisdale route. The average life of a ferry increased from 17 to nearly 26 years since the SNP came to power in 2007. [10] MVSaturn last served Dunoon on 29 June 2011, and was then scheduled to operate the summer relief on the Arran crossing. 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]. This change also allowed it to reduce its price by nearly 10m, making it more competitive, CMAL assessors held a "confidential" meeting with Ferguson, the only bidder to receive an in-person meeting. CMAL's argument is that it needs to build long-lifespan "quality" ships, interchangeable between routes and capable of withstanding often harsh conditions. A Gannett Company. It comes after a summer of cancellations and disruption across the CalMac ferry network due to breakdowns with the ageing ferry fleet. Outer Hebrides Tourism, the industry-led group expressed was "dismayed and angry" that there is no end to the ferry crisis causing "extremely serious issue for both tourism and our wider community". The server encountered an internal error or Documents obtained by BBC Disclosure indicate that successful bidder Ferguson Marine Engineering benefited from preferential treatment. 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. why; as on last Wednesday, our attention was drawn to an astonishing onslaught on ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne. "We will be looking at the substance of the allegations raised around procurement by the programme before deciding whether further audit work is required," it said. It complained about the lack a CalMac plan for food deliveries for hotels and shops. 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. But those "green" claims are questionable - LNG is still a fossil fuel, and it has to be imported from Qatar before being driven hundreds of miles from Kent to Scotland. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'OK' about leaving Frogmore Cottage following Buckingham Palace's eviction, The couple are said to have accepted that they were privileged to have a house in the US and the UK, Humza Yousaf's lawyer Aamer Anwar wades into same-sex marriage debate as statement defends missed vote, The human rights lawyer has released a statement from the family of Mohammad Asghar, who was placed on death row in Pakistan in January 2014 and whose case was discussed by the SNP leadership contender at a much-scrutinised meeting at Holyrood the following month, SNP blasted for 'dragging their heels' over dangerous cladding programme as they spend less than 1m of 97m funding pot. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. While few dispute the need for new ferries, there is far less consensus on what type of vessels should be purchased. That is what Kerevan presents as hard news. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . CalMac's chairman Dr Harold Mills and chief executive Lawrie Sinclair are identified for wounding, personal criticism. At least three runs - Stornoway, Craignure, and Brodick - are notionally profitable. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Talent like Captains Gunn or Morrison of the Hebrides, or chief engineer MacLennan of the Caledonian Isles, is not readily found nor lightly bought. [7] The streakers' removal from Rothesay was delayed by pier work to install an end-loading linkspan, allowing full ro-ro operation. The documents indicate that no other bidder was given a similar opportunity to revise its submission so significantly. CalMac has warned of further disruption to its ferry services caused by a lack of backup vessels after three of its ten main ships are out of action till at least mid-March due to technical problems. Caledonian Isles started operating from the new Brodick ferry terminal later that day. contact the editor here. The BBC understands Ferguson obtained the document from design consultants it had hired to help with its bid. Travel company https://www.youtube.com/user/CalMacFerriesLtd This peak summer service originally operated between June and August however, due to demand, operates from May to September since 2013. CalMac's main Arran ferry resumes sailings. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. That came after there was an outcry when MV Hebridean Isles was sent from its normal Islay route to assist when the safety issues surfaced for a second time the previous week. In August 2015, it was announced that two new ferries would be built at Ferguson Marine Engineering at Port Glasgow on the Clyde. 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. During her repairs, MVHebridean Isles took up service on the Arran crossing, while MVCatriona operated a shuttle service from Claonaig to Lochranza to clear the backlog of traffic unable to board the smaller Hebridean Isles at Ardrossan. Find out more about Safer Travel with CalMac. Hebrides - This ferry has been providing relief cover between Lochmaddy and Ullapool while work is being done to Skye's Uig pier. The Marine and Coastguard Agency said it has begun a preliminary investigation into the lashings of the vehicles on board the ferry. 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. 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 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. [11] From 30 June 2011, the Gourock - Dunoon service was awarded on a passenger-only basis to the newly formed David MacBrayne Ltd subsidiary Argyll Ferries. 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. The historic oil recipe is based on what was used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the formula of which has been used for hundreds of years. The deal to build two new CalMac ferries for Arran and the Hebrides has run into serious trouble. Most islands in the west of Scotland rely on services from state-owned CalMac, which operates 34 vessels - the largest fleet in the UK. We will continue to do our best to balance demand to capacity however, with no spare vessels and limited deployment options, capacity may be reduced on some routes and in some situations, we may need to prioritise essential bookings. 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 BBC documentary, however, uncovered evidence of a number of irregularities: The Port Glasgow shipyard fell into administration in August 2014, but was bought a week before the independence referendum by Jim McColl, a businessman who sat on First Minister Alex Salmond's council of economic advisers. She said Glen Sannox, for the main Arran route . If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can 2023 BBC. She was built in 2015 as Utne and operated for Norled for 6 years. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: CalMac forms part of the local resilience partnership. Of the 10 largest ferries, four are more than 30 years old and the MV Isle of Arran is 39. The introduction of heavily-subsidised road equivalent tariffs - aligning fares with the cost of road travel - has increased ferry traffic over the past decade, with 5.7m passengers and nearly 1.5m vehicles being carried in 2019 before the pandemic. "Toilets, kettle and microwave are available to use," they said. US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, Sonic boom heard as RAF Typhoon jets escort plane, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78. 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 . Caledonian Isles has also been relieved by MVIsle of Mull, MVLord of the Isles and MVHebridean Isles. Ministers are also currently considering Project Neptune - a review by consultants looking at the roles of Transport Scotland, CalMac and CMAL - to try to make the system work better. These vessels usually operate on longer crossings, with high passenger numbers. On Friday 22nd April, CalMac announced that Caledonian Isles would remain out of service for at least three weeks whilst undergoing repairs in Troon. A new ferries plan is being promised by the Scottish government by the end of this year. CalMac says its maintenance budget has risen by 67% over the past five years,. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Like them, CalMac provides essential services no host of cherry-pickers could equal. Deputy First Minister John Swinney has pledged to look into the new evidence. Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the information presented by BBC Disclosure would be investigated further. ", Mr Drummond responded: "We are prioritising food deliveries and weve shipped everything the local haulier has asked for. Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide answers to many common questions about booking and travelling, including information around routes, vehicles, children, dogs, online bookings and refunds. Next on the shopping list is a replacement for 33-year-old MV Lord of the Isles, which operates between Mallaig and South Uist - but that's at an early stage and a new ship could be several years away. Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route. In 2019, the shipyard went back into administration and was nationalised after ministers rejected a last-ditch offer from Mr McColl to split the cost of completing the two ferries, claiming this would breach EU state aid rules. 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. Portraying CalMac as a subsidy junkie fast alienating the public, Kerevan forecasts its doom before European demands for compulsory competitive tendering. has a calmac ferry ever sunk. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's The issues have meant that other ferries such as MV Hebrides have had overhauls delayed until March 20 to cover for MV Clansman which suffered a starboard main engine failure after sea trials over a technical issue. She was removed from service and relieved by Isle of Arran, with Loch Riddon providing additional capacity on the Lochranza - Claonaig route alongside Catriona. It came as islanders complained to CalMac about food shelves being bare as vital supplies were not reaching shops and evidence of panic buying. We are lucky at The Herald. Comments have been closed on this article. The vessel, which can carry 612 passengers and 90 cars, was due to be replaced by a new ship, one of two dual-fuel vessels at the centre of a ferry-building fiasco that are languishing in Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow on the Clyde. 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". If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to MVHebrides, Duncan Hamilton, SNP list MSP for the Highlands and Islands, is quoted to dismiss Mr Sinclair's track-record. He said he was not aware of any interference by ministers or civil servants in the procurement process. This has long been fact. After transport minister Jenny Gilruth convened a resilience meeting with the local MP, MSP, councillors and other stakeholders Alasdair Allan the SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar said the minister agreed to look at whether a compensation scheme can be created from financial performance penalties imposed on CalMac. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself. Our team, 70% of whom live and work locally, truly understand the impact of this disruption. [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. MV Caledonian Isles (Scottish Gaelic: Eileanan Chaledonia) is one of the largest ships owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. MV Loch Seaforth. Nor are we advised of Professor Kay's expertise in maritime affairs, but his obscurity is such that he enjoys no entry in Who's Who in Scotland. The Wemyss Bay to Rothesay route is operated by two vessels, built in Poland, MVBute (delivered in spring 2005) and MVArgyle, which entered service in 2007. CMAL and Jim McColl's former management team have blamed each other for problems that later developed with the construction of the ships. MVCaledonian Isles, . We are lucky at The Herald. Video, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, a system used for the Danish island of Samso, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78. Even then, blundering officials had to remove the documents after they forgot to redact her bank details, Frogmore eviction 'leaked' by Palace as political tactic insider claims. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. [citation needed], On first coming into service, Caledonian Isles usually berthed overnight at Ardrossan in the summer and at Brodick in the winter timetable. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can 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. Most are symmetrical when viewed from the side, with no operational bow or stern. Were this one man's ravings, it might matter little. heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment. "We have a senior manager from Scottish Water over visiting projects we are working on and struggling to believe this this kind of thing happens in this day and age," he said. misconfiguration and was unable to complete There was much controversy following the decision to award the shipbuilding contracts to yards outside Scotland. A replacement programme for seven smaller vessels has begun, and is currently at the "concept design" phase. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . Robbie Drummond, managing director of CalMac, said: During this latest disruption, we have shipped all the food deliveries we have been asked to take. Two years later tenders went out for two new large ships - one for the Arran route and the other destined for the "Uig triangle", serving Skye, North Uist and Harris. The central casing means that she can only carry one lane of commercial vehicles down each side of the car deck.