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Almost 11,000 CalMac ferry crossings cancelled due to technical faults

Almost 11,000 CalMac ferry crossings cancelled due to technical faults

A freedom of information request submitted by the Lib Dems found that a total of 10,809 sailings were cancelled due to technical faults with ferries between 1 January 2023 and 30 April 2025.
This resulted in ferries being cancelled on 548 days out of 851 in that period.
Out of the whole CalMac fleet in Scotland, there are approximately 450 sailings a day.
The figures come as the ferry network has suffered years of disruption, with an ageing fleet and delays in the delivery of new vessels repeatedly affecting services.
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Commenting on the latest figures, Mr Greene, the party's transport spokesperson, said: 'These figures reveal just how much chaos the SNP are causing island communities.
'Our island communities are being treated as second class citizens, lacking the basic right to access the same public services as mainland Scots.
'The SNP's failure to deliver new lifeline ferries has anchored islanders with an ageing fleet that is in constant need of repair, at constant risk of cancellation and costing millions in repair bills.
'My constituents on the west coast are suffering the depressing reality of losing business, missing events and hospital appointments and, frankly, they have lost faith in the Scottish Government's ability to fix those problems.
'Scottish Liberal Democrats would get the basics right and stand up for island communities. That starts by making sure islanders have access to the ferries they need and rebuilding our country's rural and island economic reputation, which has been sorely undermined by the SNP.'
CalMac has said they continue to see high levels of planned sailings go ahead as they pointed to an ageing ferry fleet and increasingly challenging weather creating technical problems.
A CalMac spokeswoman said: 'The figures clearly show that CalMac operated more than 95% of all planned sailings since 2023. In a typical day we operate over 450 sailings and our staff work hard to provide a good service in challenging circumstances. In fact, poor weather remains the most common cause of disruption.
'In terms of technical problems, these do happen with an aging fleet and in increasingly challenging weather. However, the arrival of 13 new vessels by 2029, which started with MV Glen Sannox in January this year, will reduce these and modern vessels will improve the reliability and resilience of services across the whole network."
Transport Scotland has said it intends to invest over £530m in the coming year improve their service networks on the west coast and northern isles.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are investing in six new major vessels to serve Scotland's ferry network from early 2025, alleviating the need for extensive repairs on older vessels and improving reliability. Contracts have also been signed for a further seven new smaller vessels to serve the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.
'CalMac are delivering services in increasingly challenging weather and the arrival of 13 new vessels by 2029, which started with MV Glen Sannox in January this year, will reduce technical issues and these modern vessels should also be able to operate in more challenging weather and sea conditions.
'To improve service in the short term, we have also purchased the MV Loch Frisa and chartered the MV Alfred. We continue to work with operators and CMAL to improve resilience across our networks.'
Campaigners have recently criticised a new £4.4 million support fund for island businesses affected by ferry disruption, warning it excludes many of the communities worst hit by the ongoing "shambles".
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