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.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here