Image: Thomas Nugent
On a very busy Saturday, yesterday, CalMac, described by one Tory councillor as one of the worst ferry services in the world, made 518 crossings to more than 30 places on time, hitting 99% reliability, after cancelling only 5.
The 5 cancelled sailings included the 4 from Oban to South Uist but the North Uist crossing to Skye, operated all 6 on time.
The other cancellation was the 1 Campbelltown to Ardrossan sailing. Campbelltown is on the mainland.
Two days ago BC Ferries in British Columbia warned the public to brace for ferry cancellations this summer.
On 22 May 2023, from 3:30pm to midnight, BC Ferries cancelled 12 sailings to and from Bowen Island, population 3 680. The cancellation of BC Ferries sailings to and from Bowen Island over the May long weekend is emblematic of larger issues, locals say, with some residents now planning to abandon the island community altogether due to unreliable service to the mainland. The company apologised. The Government did not apologise. Opposition parties did not suggest they should apologise or, indeed, do anything at all.
Sources:
https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser
https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/bc-ferries-warns-of-cancellations-over-the-summer-1.6453347
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bowen-island-ferry-cancellations-1.6851222
Talking-up Scotland 
I’m surprised that no one from the Beeb , The Herald or the Red/Blue Tories has thought to link Ferries , Pigeons and Independence conferences/marches .
That would be a fruitful diversion for unionists in desperate need of a wee pick-me-up as the Union nears breaking point .
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‘I’m surprised that no one … has thought to link Ferries, Pigeons and Independence conferences/marches. ‘ Me too ’cause it’s so easy to do!
Imagine: ‘STV reports that CalMac ferry cancellations to South Uist have led to a major drop in the circulation of The Herald newspaper which relies exclusively on ferries from the mainland for delivery to the island.
‘This has resulted in The Herald’s shocking exposures of the latest independence convention and marches having to be carried to long-suffering South Uist residents by pigeon post, using especially strong pigeons bred in the vicinity of a unique in the world toxic environment of a major south Glasgow hospital which was designed, built and is now operated by a government minister who belongs to that SNP!
‘South Uist residents, accustomed to but understandably so incredibly angry that a few percent of their scheduled ferries in a year – and the copies of that quality publication, The Herald that the ferries carry – don’t arrive, are nevertheless relieved to have the pigeon post alternative. This is because even – yes even – the Unionists amongst them have lost faith in the veracity of the broadcast news they still receive – even when ferries are cancelled – from a public service broadcaster, namely BBC Scotland.’
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As previously highlighted on this site, the South Uist ferry is a summer only service which was reinstated after a decade of absence in 2013 – It would have been known to all and sundry (including the BBC) for the last 10 years that the route could be cancelled should problems arise elsewhere in the fleet.
Essentially the South Uist service is not “regular”, so should be disregarded when looking at performance of the CalMac fleet on those routes which ARE regular.
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And right on schedule The Herald’s front page story today reports calls to have CalMac replaced by an as yet unformed new company
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