Ferry disruption: Islanders face a ‘difficult’ winter, says transport minister

CalMac is currently maintaining ferry services to Arran using the Ferguson-built MV Isle of Arran – nicknamed the “Auld Trooper” because it is 40 years old – and a catamaran MV Alfred which is being chartered at a cost of £1m per month.

Government-owned CaMac used to add a new large vessel to its fleet every two or three years, but since 2007 the role of ferries procurement has been the responsibility of a different state-owned company, CMAL.

Since then only two large vessels have been delivered, MV Finlaggan in 2011 and MV Loch Seaforth in 2015.

The dual-fual LNG ship Glen Sannox and its sister vessel Glen Rosa were both meant to be delivered in 2018.

But design challenges and a bitter dispute between CMAL and the former Ferguson shipyard owners over costs resulted in the firm going bust and being nationalised.

Much of the CalMac fleet is now beyond its expected service life.

Fiona Hyslop pointed out that six new large vessels are under construction – including Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa which are both earmarked for the Arran route.

CMAL has also begun the procurement process to replace seven small ferries, with the contract expected to be awarded next March.