I’m prepared to admit that super-rich independent Norway might offer a more reliable, more frequent, though more expensive, ferry service to more locations than CalMac, but in the absence of any figures (no one forces them to publish any), one more ferry fiasco, this time in Brazil, forces me to leave CalMac in first place.
From infosaj.com.br today, with apologies for any translation hoots:
Lots of horns, some shouting. Now I'm the idiot blocking access. I open the window, apologize to the guy in the white truck, and reverse. He shouts that “this is it straight away, every day”. The cars behind me also reverse and I move back further. The man accelerates recklessly, crosses the road and leaves. We try to organize the part of the queue that fits us and settle in for the beginning of a journey that no one knew how long it would last.
It was my turn, this summer, to experience the ordeal of crossing the ferry between Bom Despacho and Salvador.
The journey – approximately 15 km – was an eight-hour odyssey that I wouldn't wish on anyone.
I later discovered that my case was not even the most serious. My friend spent 20 (TWENTY!) hours to cover these 15 km on a holiday. https://infosaj.com.br/a-desgraca-do-ferryboat-vai-continuar-assim-mesmo-se-nao-ha-um-engavetamento-por-dia-e-porque-deus-existe/
Brazil is not a poor country. It has a middle-ranking GDP. We’re not talking Africa here.
So, encouraged by the Mull councillor who felt sure that CalMac was the worst in the world and that it could learn by looking abroad, I’ve tried Canada, USA, New Zealand and England, and have found FA to learn.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The Royal Navy’s frigate building programme is significantly behind schedule and costs are several hundred millions over budget and projected to rise.
Although these are being built in Glasgow, we are not getting regular reports of ‘fiascos’ and ‘budget over-runs’. This is probably because they are being built by BRITISH Aerospace Systems. They are also for OUR BOYS in the BRITISH armed forces and the shop stewards at the yards in 2014 said, at the prompting of the Scottish Labour Party that they agreed that the proposed frigate building programme be made conditional on Scotland voting NO, because the Royal Navy did not build in FOREIGN yards.
So the Unionist media do not report such ‘fiascos’. Only Scottish ones are bad.
Alasdair Macdonald
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O/T again,
Culture Sec Lucy Frazer: There’s a perception of bias… on occasion it has been biased.
She seem to think BBC is biased I suppose against the Tories maybe someone should ask her if she also thinks BBC Scotland are biased against the SNP as they have had to correct some reports where they have lied.
Remember she is the one who said Scots should be deported as slaves to solve the West Lothian question with her Tory friends thinking it was very funny.
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The Cal Mac ferries will be safe if they can avoid the nuke subs which drag down fishing boats and hitting underwater rocks.
Not so bad when they go into refit as they NEVER come back out, or get that particular “fiasco” reported on the British Bullsh!t for Colonies propaganda unit.
The ferries also have to watch out for RN surface boats, which seemingly have no rear view mirrors or radar or look-outs, and may be piloted by Sub Lt (failed) Bowie types.
Pugwash for Dummies.
gavinochiltree
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Well said, I’ve been looking for a post like this to share. Thankyou👍👏👏
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“British Bullsh!t for Colonies propaganda unit”I like that description
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If Calmac was run by and controlled by the MOD and RN then at least half the surface fleet would unserviceable, in dry dock, laid up for various reasons including lack of personnel. Replacement builds would be yrs behind delivery and over budget and the original number reduced because of funding, nobody but nobody would say a dickiebird.
Golfnut
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Sorry, hadn’t finished.
Except to blame the Scottish government and baad SNP for not doing ‘ something ‘ to fix it.
Golfnut
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A couple of points on the ferries.
There is no way on earth that the ferry project could have been so badly delayed and messed up without someone running interference on the whole project.
We’re also consistently told that LPG is an unusual fuel for boats. That’s total nonsense. It’s not uncommon on offshore supply vessels and low and behold, look what have a look at BC Ferries. These are not small boats.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ferries-upgrades-spirit-class-vessels-to-operate-on-natural-gas-1.4280211
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