Today, 25.08.24, the Daily Record has:
Ministers rejected £13.8m deal to buy catamaran and ploughed on with £400m ferry building fiasco
It’s an old story based on this from 02 August 2023:
Ministers have come under fire as an £800m scheme to create a Clyde shipbuilding revolution and solve Scotland’s ferry crisis with a fleet of 50 catamarans has been sunk.
In August 2023, I see this Canadian catamaran had to call off in wind speeds of 55km/h or 34mph.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hullo-ferries-cancellations-aug-15-aug-14-1.6936635
Meanwhile in Scotland with CalMac:
Whether a sailing is cancelled or not is largely depending on the forecasted and current wind speeds as well as sea conditions. As a more or less general rule one can say that when wind gusts of around 40 to 45mph or higher are expected there is already a chance that ferries will divert or are being cancelled.
https://islay.scot/how-to-check-if-your-ferry-to-islay-is-sailing/#:~:text=Wether%20a%20sailing%20is%20cancelled,divert%20or%20are%20being%20cancelled
34mph winds? Pussies?
Does CalMac operate in the stormiest water?
It does. The next most northerly and exposed to ocean storms, are BC Ferries, operating out of Vancouver, Canada. See this:
Maybe the Herald would like to revisit this story?
No need the Daily Record has stupidly.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Catamarans are good and functional ships and I have used them on many occasions. However, they are unsuitable for some sea and weather conditions. Throughout maritime history humans have had to use different boats for different conditions.
The catamaran saga which The Herald and Alba are punting is simply an attack ploy, based on the media/politician trope that the world is bipolar -one thing or the other, no in-between.
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Forcing me into a bipolar response?
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We have a very useful example of the effectiveness of Catamaran Ferries in the Pentland crossing from Gills Bay to Orkney . That crossing has frequently outperformed the conventional vessels sailing to Stromness across the Pentland Firth . Much of the prejudice against Cats comes from the yachting fraternity who know a history of SAILING cats pitchpoling in high following winds . You are no doubt correct when you argue that the controversy about ferries is being used as a stick with which to beat the SNP but that does not detract from the strong case for a catamaran type ferry . There are issues around suitable piers but the cat vessels are well proven design for use in high winds and adverse tidal conditions .
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‘the controversy about ferries is being used as a stick with which to beat the SNP but that does not detract from the strong case for a catamaran type ferry’
No doubt but not really an issue for TuS – Talking up Single Hulls? ;-(
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“Let a thousand catamarans bloom”……………….. said Mao Tse Hootsmon, Herald and BEEB Hootsmon, along with all the other agitprop colonial outlets/mouthpieces.
And lo…once Starwars Slacker party came to power all work at Fergusons stopped, and Labour returned much of Scotlands funding to pay for MORE London Mega-infrastructure–always the Biggest in Europe (it benefits us all, dont you know?).
London NEEDS a giant shiny new gee-gaw –maybe two or three.
Arise Lard Starwars! You can have a seat between Lard Baron Ffoulksakia of Cumnochhio and Dame Lady Ruthless, the rugger-hugger.
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Does a catamaran have accommodation for a crew to live on board, as is the case with some CalMac ferries?
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If the Herald insist in presenting themselves as part of the media who publish/write the ‘news’….then as part of that media who publish/write the ‘news’ , they like others, should perhaps consider also RE focusing time and time again upon other ‘news’ stories (or rather revisiting OLD news upon other political parties) ….
Where some of that (old) news , but actually some is still current and relevant, on OTHER parties, like say the Tories, are perhaps ones who actually HAVE overseen many FAILED . or flawed , or over budget and also delayed projects as the party in power as THE UK government (list I have noted below as examples are BTW ….NOT an exhaustive one)….
Projects such as the HS2, the Elizabeth Line, the Ajax tanks, the supposed but never was bridge /tunnel from Scotland to NI (the feasibility study upon this cost £900,000)……and NOT FORGETTING the one that is the usual ELEPHANT in the ROOM as far as our media is concerned….. i.e. BREXIT.
Which ministers in the UK (various) TORY governments have come under (constant) fire and been asked to (constantly) resign…..compared to say ministers within the Scottish government ?……
Are the Tories now considered SO VERY BAD as a UK government that failure and incompetence is so expected via them that the media then prefers to focus instead more of their attention upon one other MORE successful as a government but who THEY, the media, define as failing….to make it seem as if failure and incompetence is not unique to the Tory UK government alone….alas the data , facts and figures prove otherwise. (though needs to be said that the Welsh Labour devolved Govt are giving the Tory UK government a run for their money on failure via public services)…as does the voting record of us who LIVE in Scotland prove otherwise too…..in that we , do not agree or see the same reality as the one the media present, and thus that is why many of us CHOOSE to vote time and time again FOR the SNP to be OUR government….simples
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I would say that the overriding reason that Cal Mac doesn’t consider catamarans is that they would have to change every ferry terminal on their West Cost routes as none are currently suitable.
I wish that those so-called experts would stop and think before they put pen to paper. Converting all the terminals would cost millions more than building a couple of new ferries.
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Key to this ongoing propaganda campaign is “…had meetings with ministers over the new ferries built over 20 years would cost a fraction of those currently being built..”, as if Ministers may dictate not only to the operator which type of vessels they must run, but what the fleet owner may purchase…
Even back in the days of MacBrayne, vessels were specified to enable them to serve as backup on a range of routes as well as house the crew when they had to lay over.
– eg The introduction of the “Heb Isles” so recently wailed over by Martin Williams, required extensive port modifications before it could enter service, and it is no different for the much scandalised Glen Sannox, where modifications to Ardrossan have yet to begin.
It is a much more complex issue than that painted by the media, but if there is one constant to these articles which should raise suspicions, it is mention of SG Ministers.
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Does anyone have any information about the Hydrofoils that ran between Ardrossan and Larne?
Australian built from memory.
Did a return journey with the car, just over an hour each way.
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Right lads, stop all this hulls nerdy stuff!
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I have had a lot of fine weather and few rough crossings on the Aberdeen Shetland route and a couple of fine weather crossings on the Pentland Firth catamaran.
Is there a ferry anywhere using a 125m catamaran with over 100 cabins for 600 passengers, 450m of lane space, crew accommodation and an operational speed of 24kt?
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Catamarans are not suitable for Scottish weather conditions, The falsehood of build too many of them. Ignoramous. Would waste £Billions.
4 ferries are being built. Two which will save £Billions on fuel and energy. To cover unpredictable increase in tourism, especially after Covid. Scottish Gov generous discounts and commitment to subsidised island travel.
Before only one ferry was built a year. Unpredictable Increased travel means more are needed. More are being built than before and soon will come into service. The Ferries were laid up because of COVID. Scottish Gov covered the cost necessary. Soon more will be in service. The monies spent went into the Scottish infrastructure. Increasing the economy. Scotland earns £Billions from tourism. Giving the economy a boost.
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Catamarans can be smoother and quicker. They need favourable weather conditions. Only suitable for certain routes. Or they would be laid up more frequently. For safety purposes.
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To many Catamarans would work out more expensive. More economic to build ferries.
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