ISLANDERS, businesses and community groups have urged the Scottish Government and the quango responsible for the CalMac ferry fleet, CMAL, to “stop dithering” and acquire an environmentally-friendly catamaran which would be cheaper to buy and run than existing vessels.

The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee (MIFC) have written to Islands Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, following publication of a report by Holyrood’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee into the fiasco that has left two boats incomplete.

They say this has put further pressure onto an “already ageing, limited and in some cases unreliable fleet” serving the Clyde and Hebridean islands, and want Wheelhouse to buy a catamaran similar to that owned by Pentland Ferries.

Campaigners say the catamaran is on the market for around one-10th of the £110 million being paid for each of the partially completed dual-fuel ferries being built in Port Glasgow and whose delay is being felt across the Hebrides. Joe Reade, MIFC chair, said: “CMAL has an excellent and immediate opportunity to bring a much-needed new vessel – which is already built – into the fleet, and satisfy the task they were given by the Scottish Government to buy from the used market as soon as they can.

“Progress has been tortuously slow and for some reason they seem unwilling to take this opportunity that could have such a positive impact for our ferry operator and for our islands. This ferry can fit our piers, it can cope with our seas, it can carry all the cars and people necessary – in short, it can do exactly what CalMac and the islands need of it.”

The committee said CalMac’s ferry fleet is stretched to breaking point, with more breakdowns and congestion every year, a “dire” situation that has been exacerbated by the fiasco at Fergusons and a five-year delay on hulls 801 and 802, as the dual-fuel projects are known.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said they had been engaging with the MIFC and CMAL with the vessel sellers.

They said: “We are keen both parties work together to resolve technical, regulatory and commercial matters and we are following progress closely.”

CMAL said the catamaran is being built in Indonesia, primarily for Pacific Island rout=es.

A spokesperson added: “All our vessels must comply with UK Flag State regulations to secure a passenger certificate. From our investigations, it is clear the vessel would require significant modification to meet the Flag State standards.

“To date, the seller has been unable to provide assurances on meeting these. Until the standards are met, the vessel remains non-compliant and is not currently a viable option.

“We will continue to explore all viable solutions in the second-hand ferry market, having considered more than 100 candidate ferries throughout 2020.”