Yesterday in the Herald:
New CalMac service turmoil as ferry is sidelined for eight months. CALMAC ferry services have been plunged into new turmoil as one of its oldest vessels is to be forced out of action till at least the end of October due to new technical problems.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23724925.new-calmac-service-turmoil-ferry-sidelined-eight-months/
Even BBC Scotland seems reluctant to sail with this voyage of discovery, of something, anything, bad on CalMac ferries and by association the SNP in government.
The ferry in question is the 38 year-old MV Hebridean Isles which serves the Ardrossan in North Ayrshire to Campbelltown on the Mull of Kintyre, crossing. This service has been off, often the only one in more than 500, for most of the time in recent months, with no sign of locals protest marching in Glasgow.
Why?
You can drive from Campbelltown, round to Glasgow quicker, in 3 hours as opposed to the 2 hours 36 min ferry time to Ardrossan, car park wait time, plus another 50m minute drive.
As the Herald announced ‘service turmoil‘ on 15 August 2023, CalMac did 100% of 518 sailings on time and maintained their 98% average record throughout August.
As for the age of the MV Hebridean Isles.
Readers may remember that the average age of a BC ferry in Canada is 35 years and that Ireland is still using 7 of former CalMac 50 year-old ferries.
Source:
https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=15%2F08%2F2023
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Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
I’m astonished to think that once upon a time I used to buy the Herald.
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It kind of grates that, to read the National, I have to register with the Herald.
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Alas the Herald, once a newspaper.
Glug, glug, glug and down S.S Herald went, to the bottom of the sales index.
What next for Herald Headlines?
Hitlers plane found on the moon?
Labour discover socialism? (And a social conscience)?
Starmer and Sunak revealed as twins?
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Second one a bit unlikely but the others…
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First one was a headline in the old Sunday Sport–perhaps it should be updated for the BEEB/Herald to…….
“Calmac ferry found on moon”!
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Are The Herald writers under the mistaken impression that CalMac ferries should be immune to mechanical failure ?
Do they display similar astonished anger when they hear of bus breakdowns or when trains are taken out of service for repair ?
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Aye, Martin Williams at the “turmoil” decanter again… Perhaps when his mental age approaches that of the Hebridean Isles some sense may prevail…
The “Heb Isles” has served various duties over it’s 38 years, that it should develop problems will not be unexpected, although the controllable pitch propellers fault will have been a blow.
It’s safer in dry dock being fixed than being “plunged” into the stormy hyperbole of the average Herald journo’s output, which tends to make passengers feel sick…
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What would a Scottish Labour, Scottish Government have done with Ferguson Marine?
Probably the same as the Welsh Labour, Welsh Government did with Cardiff Airport.
https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-03-26/whats-next-after-a-turbulent-decade-for-cardiff-airport
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“Welsh” Labour is a bit out of tune with the Starmer party.
“Scottish” Labour will want to shut down Fergusons as they did with much of the Clyde yards. Also Prestwick airport, if their public comments are to be believed.
Saviour of the blah, blah–Gordo Broon for example, could have brought work to Bifab in Fife when PM, but he saved all renewable grants and incentives for Humberside.
He also vetoed carbon capture in Scotland.
Labour does NOTHING for Scotland and never have.
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You could have just left it at….. “The Herald fakes”
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It adds to the vast library of examples…
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35 years of age is absolutely normal for a ship. These things are literally built to last at least half a century, since ships aren’t something you can cobble together in half an hour in a factory. There are perfectly seaworthy passenger ships who served 70 years or longer. If properly maintained and you don’t drive them into icebergs, a 35 year old ship is an absolute non-issue.
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