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. John Daniel Peteranna of the group, whose South Uist-based renewable energy company supplies wind turbines to make help make homes self-sufficient said: "It is just not sustainable. The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee has urged Transport Scotland to buy MV Pentalina. 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. MVHebrides, 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. CMAL had used the same firm to help draft the tender pack which went to bidders, but has previously told MSPs it saw nothing problematic in this. Four of the 10 largest ferries are beyond their expected operational life. Duncan Hamilton says he has not spoken to Kerevan for at least three months. has a calmac ferry ever sunk. The delays have added to pressure on CalMac's old and increasingly unreliable fleet. She is powered by a hybrid combination of batteries and a small diesel engine - a world first for a sea-going RO-RO vessel. CMAL said in a statement that new information contained in the programme would need to be "carefully investigated". .''. Charles and Camilla break silence after Frogxit fall out with business-as-usual engagements, The Palace has not yet commented on the move to remove Prince Harry and Meghan from Frogmore - instead sending out a release about forthcoming official engagements, Holy oil prepared to anoint King Charles III during coronation during ceremony in Jerusalem. Agency safety regulations. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . CMAL and Jim McColl's former management team have blamed each other for problems that later developed with the construction of the ships. "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. 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. Eddie Howe makes damning Ryan Fraser Newcastle admission as Scotland star's 'commitment' questioned. Lochnevis has a surprisingly large vehicle ramp, which dominates her appearance. 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.". If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to CalMac's ''monopoly must go'', declared the Wednesday editorial, and its routes would be ''best franchised in separate bundles''. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. While few dispute the need for new ferries, there is far less consensus on what type of vessels should be purchased. Why doesn't he name them? We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. But in reality one bottle will not last a baby one week nor would it last a full family same with other foods. A SCOTS seafood firm could be forced to close with the loss of 100 jobs due to an unreliable and 'weather-shy' ferry service. 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". 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. 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. 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. 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. It complained about the lack a CalMac plan for food deliveries for hotels and shops. It said its board had voiced concerns to Transport Scotland about the contract award to Fergusons, particularly in relation to the lack of refund guarantees, which were well-documented. The Arran route, where the first ship was due to enter service in 2018, has faced more than 2,500 cancellations . The original four Loch class vessels were based on MVIsle of Cumbrae. 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. They are doing their best in challenging circumstances. Some island communities have suggested they would be better served by a greater number of smaller vessels, and that shore-based crews could boost their economies. "CalMac need to sort this out because soon enough it will force people to want to leave the islands which is not what the islands are wanting.". they had lost confidence in the senior management team. They have red funnels with black caps that display the Lion Rampant badge with masts in buff. "The shops have been bare. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories. 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. Our team, 70% of whom live and work locally, truly understand the impact of this disruption. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. . 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. "You cannot get more than one carton of milk in each shop. This has been rejected, although leasing the ship as a temporary measure remains a possibility. She was relieved by MVHebridean Isles, thereby causing knock-on cancellations to services to South Uist, where the latter vessel was due to relieve next. 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. 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. There are presently ten vessels over 80 metres (260 feet) in length in the CalMac fleet: Let's tally Kerevan's mistakes. We will continue to prioritise urgent deliveries and return the service to full timetable as quickly as we can.". A band of rain, sleet and snow is expected to move south during Monday followed by frequent snow and hail showers, Ken Bruce leaves BBC with veiled jibe after they ended his show early over concerns was free advertising for a rival, The 72-year-old Glaswegian left Radio to join Greatest Hits Radio in April after the Beeb told him to step down 17 days early, Teaching strikes held off as union on brink of striking pay deal. MVCaledonian Isles has the highest passenger capacity and can carry 1000 people on the Ardrossan to Brodick, Arran crossing. 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. Any resident of Tiree, Mull, Barra, or Harris will assure him their present vessel is not only better furnished, but much faster and more stable on passage than the mailboats of the fifties. She is a double-ender ferry with . Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) vessels can be readily identified by their black hulls and white superstructures. Its overhaul has been delayed due to the Clansman not being available to take over its duties; Lord of the Isles - Covering Coll-Tiree-Colonsay services and will have its overhaul once the Clansman returns to service CalMac recruits from the breadth of the western seaboard. 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. 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. Caledonian Isles started operating from the new Brodick ferry terminal later that day. MV Loch Seaforth. The 1920 Saturday departure was removed during the winter 2016/2017 timetable to facilitate a 0820 sailing from Brodick on Sunday, where a crew safety drill has been a normal occurrence since October 2016. 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. No prominent backers appear for Ash Regan despite claims endorsements would arrive this week. 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. It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: CalMac forms part of the local resilience partnership. Argyll Flyer was not available for the start of the passenger-only service due to prop shaft problems. They remain in close local contact with communities and hauliers and are working with them to prioritise the movement of essential supplies. Others have urged CMAL to consider using catamarans, arguing they require smaller engines yet can carry similar numbers of vehicles at a substantially lower cost. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. Descubr lo que tu empresa podra llegar a alcanzar. It was hoped that the ferry might be back in operation today after its loss led to major disruption with the shutdown for three days of two routes between Uig on Skye, Lochmaddy on North Uist and Tarbert on Harris. Vessels are owned by the asset holding company Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, which is in turn wholly owned by the Scottish Government. 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. ", Mr Drummond responded: "We are prioritising food deliveries and weve shipped everything the local haulier has asked for. The current chief executive of CMAL, Kevin Hobbs, declined to be interviewed and when confronted by BBC Disclosure about the findings, made no comment. That is what Kerevan presents as hard news. 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. They vary in length from 30.2 to 54.27m (99ft 1in to 178ft 1in). The Herald on Sunday revealed that the ferry operator had been secretly hit with 3.5m in performance fines in a year by the Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland as concerns rise about the reliability of Scotlands ageing ferry fleet. And he said it may be that the island will have to look at producing milk locally. [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. CalMac's European problem is scarcely news, and for the assertion that the company - or future private operators - have been promised a public-money honeypot of a third of a billion pounds, Kerevan tenders no evidence whatever. The Times reports an equally bleak picture across the CalMac fleet in terms of upkeep and new vessels. 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. The upper deck has the bridge and outside seating from the huge red funnel towards the stern. 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.". Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error The most recent predecessor was the 1964 built hoist loading ferry.Launched on 27 March 1998 at Appledore Shipbuilders in North Devon, she entered service four months later. Something needs to change.". contact the editor here. READ MORE: Scandal-hit Ferguson Marine faces being dissolved despite millions of taxpayer money being ploughed into it. The 0700 sailing from Ardrossan the following morning is then cancelled. contact the editor here. The past two years have seen a significant drop in numbers due to Covid restrictions but the ferry network is once again struggling to cope. Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route. 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. One of the dilemmas facing Scotland's ferry network is that it needs to commit to new ships now that could be in service for decades - yet it is still unclear which future technology will win out. But like the metaphor about the time it takes to turn a tanker around, the problems facing CalMac's fleet are going to take a long time to fix. Caledonian Isles has only ever operated between Ardrossan and Brodick on Arran. 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. As the third-largest vessel in the fleet, she brought new levels of capacity and passenger comfort to the routes. The delays have added to pressure on CalMac's old and increasingly unreliable fleet. Audit Scotland said the BBC's investigation raised "serious questions" about the use of public money. Teaching strikes reprieve in doubt as union blasts 14% pay rise as 'paltry'. MVChieftain is a passenger-only vessel leased from Clyde Marine to operate the Gourock to Kilcreggan service since June 2020. One such vessel, a medium-sized Norwegian ferry now renamed MV Loch Frisa, is due to enter service on the Craignure to Oban route in June. 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. 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. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. In February 2012, Caledonian Isles was in dry-dock to repair damage sustained in a collision with Winton Pier, Ardrossan. The present MV Clansman is the fifth vessel to carry the name in the CalMac fleet over the years. 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. In April 2015, MVIsle of Arran had problems with her prop shaft which delayed the introduction of her additional Arran summer sailings, leaving Caledonian Isles to carry all the traffic and run additional sailings at night. Forward of the main entrance square is the cafeteria, with stairways leading up to the observation lounge and the outside deck. She is a spare vessel during the winter months. 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. An open deck extends right around the vessel on this level, including forward of the observation lounge and overlooking the bow. 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. During the period of the summer timetable there is an additional sailing on Friday evenings, leaving Ardrossan at 2030, returning from Brodick at 2140. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please "Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited announces Scottish shipbuilder as preferred tenderer for two large ferries contract", "Shortage Of Workers And Covid Disruption Delay Ferguson Ferries By A Further 15 Weeks", "Public invited to help name CMAL's first LNG ferry", "New 12m CalMac hybrid ferry launched at Ferguson yard", "CalMac takes over the tiller at Argyll Ferries", "New ferry purchased for CalMac Scottish Island Services", Shipsofcalmac.uk: Unofficial list of the past and current Caledonian MacBrayne fleet, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caledonian_MacBrayne_fleet&oldid=1126830855, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 December 2022, at 12:53. "People aren't stupid, they know that there is not ferry and there is usually a daily lorry with fresh stuff. Since the SNP took power in 2007, the rate at which new vessels are produced has more than halved. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. She was built in 2017 by Malakoff Limited in Shetland. 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. These vessels usually operate on the longer crossings, with high passenger numbers. Yet it is false to say that ''not one of Caledonian MacBrayne's 29 vessels'' makes a profit. The ferry operator said the Inner Hebrides' MV Clansman and Islay's MV Hebridean Isles are out of action due to technical problems and delays have delayed the return of Arran's MV Caledonian Isles from its annual overhaul as the ship has been in dry dock since 9 January. 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. We need to do something different, because the government isn't interested in helping us. Read about our approach to external linking. Like them, CalMac provides essential services no host of cherry-pickers could equal. More information about this error may be available Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Aft of the entrance there are lounges down either side with toilet blocks, the shop and a bar lounge further towards the stern. CalMac is the Scottish Government-owned operator of the current eight-year ferry contract, awarded by Transport Scotland after a competition with private sector operator Serco and due to end in. A leaked dossier has suggested the process of awarding a 97m Scottish ferries contract may have been rigged. "We understand how much our customers and communities we serve rely on ferry services, and how challenging this period is. CalMac says its maintenance budget has risen by 67% over the past five years, with a projected spend of 34.2m in 2022. This peak summer service originally operated between June and August however, due to demand, operates from May to September since 2013. 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. Ship management accounting is complex, with costs and the intricacies of ship depreciation spread over CalMac operations as a whole. 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. She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), which runs ferries to the Hebridean and Clyde Islands of Scotland. Read about our approach to external linking. A new ferries plan is being promised by the Scottish government by the end of this year. "Why isn't there an automatic plan in place, so that when a ferry goes off there is another there and you do this and that. 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. CalMac is ''renowned for its high prices, uncomfortable boats, and disregard for customers . 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. Of similar design, but larger than the Loch class, MVHallaig was launched in 2012 for the Raasay service. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. The MV Caledonian Isles, which is 29 years old, was out of service for nearly a fortnight in April with engine failure causing capacity problems for Arran, CalMac's busiest ferry route, just when businesses were hoping to see some kind of bounce-back after Covid.