Parliamentary candidate, Alison MacCorquodale (Labour), has called for immediate action to charter a freight vessel for the Stornoway-Ullapool route in order to ease pressure on the LOCH SEAFORTH and the wider CalMac network.
She has pointed to reports that ro-ro vessel, CLIPPER RANGER, which was formerly deployed on the Stornoway-Ullapool route is “resting” at the Cammell Laird yard on Merseyside.
Scotslion Ferries Ltd, a consortium of business people, are looking into the feasibility of purchasing the ferry SATURN, in a bid to free up car space on the current two CalMac ferries. Reason: they are dissatisfied, after ISLE OF ARRAN was out of service, and CALEDONIAN ISLE had to operate with a single ramp before going to drydock.
Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides (Scotland), will be next in line for a new ferry to support the island’s growing economy, Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf has pledged.
Transport Scotland officials are currently investigating the potential design of the new vessel with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and CalMac Ferries.
CalMac business prospers thanks to retention of Hebrides service
Herald Scotland writes that the retention of the contract for the Clyde and Hebrides service was the driver of CalMac’s improved financial performance in the year to the end of March.
When private company Serco joined the tender process, competition became very stiff. After committing to 350 service improvements CalMac was ultimately successful with its bid. Its new eight-year contract began on October 1, 2016.
According to CEO Martin Dorchester this was a key highlight in a year that saw the business increase its turnover by £5 million to £195.5m at the same time as turning a £4.8m pre-tax loss into a £4.8m pre-tax profit.
Photo: ©Mike Louagie
CalMac is launching a new campaign to reinforce its zero tolerance policy on unacceptable behaviour. Over the past six months staff in ports and on board vessels have reported a small increase in incidents of either verbal or physical abuse.
Photo: Mike Louagie
Watch the moment the GLEN SANNOX was launched from the slipway at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow. She will serve CalMac’s Ardrossan – Arran ferry route. She is going to be the first LNG ferry in the UK to run on liquefied gas and was launched by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on November 21.
The ferry is designed to carry 127 cars or 16 HGVs or a combination of both and up to 1,000 passengers. The vessel is due to be delivered in Winter 2018/2019.
Photo © Stòras Mara Cailleanach Earranta (CMAL)
David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) announced that its Chief Executive Martin Dorchester, who is also Managing Director of CalMac Ferries Ltd, will be leaving the company to take up a new role as Chief Executive of Includem, – a specialist Scottish charity supporting some of the most vulnerable young people and their families across Scotland.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed membership of its new Community Board. The creation of the twelve-member, independent board was a key element of the company’s winning bid for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract last year and will be a strong community voice on strategic ferry issues. The Board is completely independent from the company and no CalMac representative will sit on it.