CalMac ferries are youngest in major survey!

linked to the aging vessels it currently it currently has to use.

By Professor John Robertson

BBC Scotland today, opening with the ferries construction being ‘delayed and over budget‘, a ‘running sore‘, then ‘delayed and over budget‘ again, all in less than 60 seconds, in case you didn’t get that, before repeating the idea that the fleet is ‘aging.’

Well, we’re all aging, but CalMac ferries are, objectively, younger than average, for a ferry fleet.

From a September 2022, Ernst and Young LLP survey for the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland department, CalMac ferries are, on average, newer (22) than those in Norway (26), Australia (24) and Canada (35!).

You can add a year and a half to all of those ages but CalMac, funded by the Scottish Government, has still kept its fleet younger than most.

While we’re on delays, two Romanian-built ferries for Ontario, took two years from delivery to operation, due to safety fears after being built on the cheap. In New Zealand, the contract for two new ferries to replace the current fleet has been cancelled altogether after the incoming government refused to pay for them. There is no Plan B.

Source:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/strategic-framework-of-options-for-the-chfs-network-project-neptune/benchmarking

7 thoughts on “CalMac ferries are youngest in major survey!”

  1. Sorry John O/T.

    I noticed story about Reform Scotland got me wondering who they actually are,had a search some very interesting names mentioned but this one really stood out.

    MCCONNELL, Jack Wilson, Rt Hon LordCorrespondence address14-18, Hill Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 3JZRole ACTIVE DirectorDate of birthJune 1960Appointed on24 February 2022NationalityBritishCountry of residenceScotlandOccupationParliamentarian

    Interesting

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  2. The Glen Rosa is to be launched today (9, April, 2024). Cue sneers from the Scottish media – late, over budget, etc.

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    1. I watched the launch on the live feed and apart from a slight delay due high winds the launch went off pretty smoothly and the onlookers of all ages seemed to be enthusiastic about the event.

      Great that an apprentice did the launch rather than some chinless wonder in robes and that four of her colleagues were on the podium as well for the event. A nice change I thought.

      The Herald however seems to be in a huff as its still not on their web page yet! Ah spare a thought for the Herald’s poor old Martin Williams, on second thoughts naw.

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  4. Pingback: BC Ferries in Canada just beginning to think of replacing four ferries between 7 and 19 years older than the oldest major CalMac vessel – Talking-up Scotland

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