By Professor John Robertson, International Ferry Correspondent of the Year
In the Herald, above, yesterday.
The same story by STV this morning:
And the Business Insider had just – Ferry operator extends ‘invaluable’ vessel’s charter for six months
How media with an agenda try to create a reality for you to suit their purpose.
It’s not really a fiasco is it?
Here’s a fiasco:
Drifts nearly onto the rocks, hits the harbour wall and now runs aground – New Zealand’s real ferry crisis
By our International Ferry Correspondent
In January 2023:
Stricken Cook Strait ferry the Kaitaki drifted more than a nautical mile towards the rugged Wellington south coast in winds gusting over 100kph, it’s been revealed.
The harbour ships that raced to her aid also likely lacked the grunt to pull her and 800 passengers to safety.
Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder on Sunday praised the professionalism of the crew and captain, who battled challenging conditions to drop two anchors and halt the powerless ship’s drift 0.9 nautical miles from shore and 0.6 nautical miles (1.1km) from hitting the sea floor.
In November that same year:
Interislander expects its Cook Strait ferry Kaiarahi will be out of action for a week after having a large hole ripped in its hull.
The ferry was damaged as it came into the berth in Wellington at 10pm on Sunday.
All sailings of the Kaiarahi for Monday had been cancelled, and that could continue for up to a week.
Today:
Cook Strait travel is under pressure, with just one of three Interislander ferries operating following the grounding of the Aratere.
The Aratere will sail again only when Maritime New Zealand gives clearance.
“There will be some disruption for sure,” Interislander Executive General Manager Duncan Roy said.
The Kaiarahi was undergoing maintenance in Picton until July 6, a Kiwirail spokesperson told 1News.
The owners, KiwiRail made a profit of $64.9 million but paid no dividend to shareholders, unlike in earlier years.
Imagine if that happened in Scotland?
What has happened in Scotland, recently?
More than 500 sailings, 100% on time yesterday but a shocking only 97.5% on Saturday as only 54 of the 62 Gourock to Dunoon sailings were on time. Local businesses will be moving to the mainland!.
Sources:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/502269/cook-strait-ferry-has-dramatic-hole-in-hull
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
What is a fiasco is that Calmac and the Scottish government keep refusing the offer by two Scottish Marine experts yo allow them to build, under license, similar catamaran ferries to MV Alfred at a Scottish yard to preserve Scottish jobs and quickly manage the problems Calmsc evidently have with aging ships, which the fiasco over the Glen Sannox and the other at Fergusons yard, which are still not ready to go into service after months of waiting and rising costs. This us nit hood gor Cslmzc or the islanders having to cope with delays and cancellations.
MV Alfred proves such vessels can cope with Scottish weather conditions and would be faster, less expensive and have more capacity than what is currently proposed
.
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By far the greater fiasco is what you wrote, are you a Herald reader or journalist perchance or ever so slightly pissed ?
” This us nit hood gor Cslmzc or the islanders having to cope with delays and cancellations ” reminds me of this classic
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I am sorry for the typos but I am an 87 year old with Glaucoma damage in both eyes so it is very hard to type in the small space available for comments.
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I’m afraid it’s not just the typos, the ‘frontier gibberish’ regurgitates much of the contrived nonsense deployed on the propaganda campaign against Calmac and SG – It’s all a ‘fiasco’ one minute and a ‘conspiracy’ the next, the good ole ‘pitchforks and torches’ game.
Were twin-hulls the answer to all Calmac’s prayers they would have been in the fleet a very long time ago, it really is THAT simple.
And for the record, SG have no say in it any more than the SO did before it.
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SENIOR “HACK” SHOULD RETIRE TO A TORY RUN CARE HOME
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34 Ferries 6 on order.Two are innovative and will save £Billions in fuel. 70,000 islanders. One ferry per 2,000. Subsidised fares and flights. Better than some bus services. Ten a day to Arran. 5,000 pop.
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This https://orcadian.co.uk/calmac-announces-charter-extension-for-mv-alfred/ wasn’t written with an agenda, it’s a simple statement of the facts absent the hyperbolic nonsense of Martin Williams.
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