In the Express, today:
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson MSP said that under the SNP the average age of Scotland’s ferries had “ballooned” to 24 years, with a third of its fleet believed to be around 30 years old.
In September 2022, Ernst & Young published these comparative data on ferries:
Scotland has the youngest ferries in comparable fleets and the Scottish Government pays the largest subsidy to keep ticket prices down for vulnerable communities, despite the presence among them of a few entitled and ungrateful settlers.
Add to the above, Washington State Ferries in the affluent Seattle area of the USA is planning to upgrade six aging vessels built between 1979 and 1982 with a view to extending their service to between 50 and 55 years. CalMac has only one ferry in service, built before 1983 – the MV Isle of Cumbrae, half the size, 100 feet and 169 tons, serving the short 4 miles, Tarbet to Portavadie crossing.
In terms of reliability which Mr Simpson also questions, CalMac operates at 95.4% despite operating in colder more stormy conditions than any of the others above. Only CalMac seems obliged to publish reliability figures.
British Columbia in Canada is around 54 degrees North and the Scottish Hebrides are about 57 North. Both operate in an archipelago with many islands and often high winds. Canada does have the advantage of a more vibrant and affluent economy due to full independence from England. However, the winds on Scotland’s west coast are far stronger, more dangerous and more disruptive.
Sources:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The Scottish Gov has built more ferries than ever before. There are four ferries in the production line. 2 in Scotland helping the Scottish economy. Innovative, cleaner and cheaper. 2 in Turkey. That is 4.
The unionists only ever built one ferry a year on average. They have never produced so many, as the SNP Scottish Gov.
The Scottish SNP Gov have built more on average, than the unionists ever did. Public monies being put to good use. Subsidised transport. The islanders get a discount. By ferry and by flight. Subsided airline and flights. Massive investment in the island travel system and economy.
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Orkney and Shetland had an Oil fund. Scotland did not have one. Oil & Gas provided a better transport system for the islands. A increased number of flights, providing a better service.
Scotland has to contribute/fund London S/E travel and transport system. HS2 will make journeys take longer. Journeys take longer in the North. Nearly twice as long over the same distance as in the south because of historical lack of investment by Westminster.
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EXPRESS DEAD TO MAJORITY OF SCOTS
STILL THINK WE CARE WHAT THEY THINK
THEY LIE, DECEIVE AND STWAL ALL HONEST DISCUSSIONS
PLEASE IF YOU ARE SCOTS. STOP BUYING IT
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How long does Mr Simpson think a ferry’s useful life ought to be?
If it is well-built and regularly maintained, then it should have a long operational life.
The Forth Rail Bridge had ‘ballooned’ to 134 years old – the Scottish Transport Secretary must resign NOW!!!
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Express, balloon, Graham Simpson, needless repetition….
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