Unprecedented issues worsen with a third of vessels out of action – CalMac

CalMac says the “unprecedented” situation around the availability of vessels in its fleet has grown worse, as one of its newest ferries remains out of action.

The ferry operator says almost a third of its entire fleet is unavailable due to unplanned problems or planned maintenance.

The update from CalMac came after First Minister John Swinney issued a fresh apology to islanders who are facing disruption as a result of pressure on the ferry fleet.

The Glen Sannox, one of the late and over-budget ferries constructed at the Ferguson Marine shipyard, was due to return to service on Tuesday afternoon, but ongoing technical problems meant it was unable to do so.

A number of sailings on the Glen Sannox between Troon and the Isle of Arran were cancelled on Tuesday as the publicly-owned operator struggled with a “reoccurring technical issue” in the vessel’s engine space.

The ferry has been repeatedly taken out of service since its first sailing last January.

In late March, CalMac said it was dealing with an “unprecedented” level of challenges due to vessels being out of action.

On Tuesday, a total of six major vessels and four small vessels were not available due to various issues.

CalMac chief executive officer Duncan Mackison said: “Almost a third of our entire fleet is unavailable for service, creating a set of circumstances where significant disruption on multiple routes served by major and small vessels is unavoidable.

“Though the situation appeared to be stabilising, emergent issues across major and small vessels means the unprecedented scenario we find ourselves in has worsened.

“Everyone at CalMac is acutely aware of the level of disruption many islands on our network have faced recently and I apologise for that.

“The full service impact of the current issues is being reviewed and plans will be shared with island communities tomorrow.”

Other large vessels facing technical problems include the MV Lord of the Isles, which has also been prevented from returning to service by an engine issue.

Speaking to the Press Association earlier on Tuesday, the First Minister apologised again to islanders hit by the disruption. He has faced criticism for his government’s handling of the fleet.

“There is very focused work going on to make sure that vessels can be in service and operating,” he said.

“Obviously, the Government is procuring a significant investment in the fleet with three additional vessels coming from the Cemre yard and the Glen Rosa yet to be completed and seven smaller vessels already in production.”

The First Minister said that, while the Government was “investing” in new vessels, he understood the difficulties the disruption caused for islanders.

But Scottish Lib Dem transport spokesman Jamie Greene said the SNP had proven it could not be trusted with the country’s ferries, adding that his party would bring forward legislation in the next parliamentary term to guarantee ferry services for islanders and expand existing compensation schemes.

“Hearing that the MV Glen Sannox is out of action will further frustrate the communities and businesses that depend on this essential route, who have already been let down repeatedly by the SNP,” he said.

“From launching vessels with painted on windows, failing to deal with cancellations, and putting in place an inadequate compensation scheme, the Scottish Government has shown it cannot be trusted with this essential transport infrastructure.”

While Scottish Labour transport spokesman Daniel Johnson said the Government’s “ferry fiasco continues to grow by the day”.

“This crisis has been years in the making and blame lies firmly at the door of this chaotic and incompetent SNP government – but no one has ever been held accountable,” he said.

“Islanders, taxpayers and shipyard workers are all paying the price for SNP failure – but enough is enough.”

Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Sue Webber said: “Scotland’s ferry network is once again in complete meltdown as a result of the SNP’s scandalous incompetence.

“Island communities and holidaymakers are suffering intolerable inconvenience due to the nationalists’ abject failure to provide CalMac with a reliable fleet.

“Ageing vessels that should be in the knacker’s yard are still in service because of the SNP’s inability to deliver new ones.

“And the new ferry they have built – seven years late and hundreds of millions over budget – keeps breaking down.”