As Scotland’s media report a 20% fall in non-weather related cancellations and an unspecified overall fall, by Scotland’s CalMac ferries, in 2022/2023, BC Ferries in affluent Canada’s British Columbia, operating in lower latitudes, warmer and less windy seas, report a 36.5% increase in all cancellations from April – June 2023 compared with the same period in 2022.

Just as cancellations soared so did profits, by 10%, for the shareholders of BC Ferries. CalMac ferries make no profits and are generously subsidised for the often small populations in Scotland’s islands. The rest of us, including the folk of the not-so-comfortable Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, subsidise island life. Anas Sarwar, Labour convenor Scottish branch, wants the Scottish Government to spend more on the ferries.

In Canada, media reports of BC Ferries’ cancellations and profits do not lead to comment by opposition politicians nor of criticism of the Canadian or regional governments. The boards are criticised…a bit.

See: https://biv.com/article/2023/08/third-bc-ferries-coastal-class-ship-having-mechanical-problems