CalMac’s 54 sailings a day, on-time 100%, but allegedly past its ‘sell-by-date’ Cumbrae ferry is younger than 7 they did already sell to Ireland and barely half the age of 3 still in service in Canada
In an ‘Exclusive’ (Stop it my ribs hurt!), the Herald’s Martin Williams writes:
A ferry that is 23 years past its ‘sell-by date’ has become the seventh to break down in a matter of days in a deepening crisis over lifeline Scots services.
Users were hit with queues of three hours at Largs to the popular tourist island of Great Cumbrae on Tuesday in the latest wave of breakdowns to hit services to and from islands off the west coast of Scotland.
I’d say ‘mince’ but mince is decent fare. This is just urine.
The MV Isle of Cumbrae, serving on a 10 minute, 1 mile crossing, is just 48 years old, launched in 1976. Should they have sold it at only 25? What is he on about?
Is 48 even a sell-by-date?
From @Seumasabhein 4th August 2023:
7 former and pretty elderly CalMac ferries [all launched before the MV Isle of Cumbrae, in 1976] are still running in one of the most affluent countries in Europe, Ireland.
MV Eigg (1974) Clare Island Ferries MV Kilbrannan (1972) as above, renamed MV Clew Bay Queen
Users were hit with queues of three hours at Largs to the popular tourist island of Great Cumbrae on Tuesday….
On Tuesday 6th August 2024, CalMac ran 54 sailings from Largs to Millport Cumbrae Slip, 100% of the planned and advertised schedule, on time with no cancellations.
They did the same the previous day and and over the previous busy weekend.
Lots of folk turned up with their cars without checking beforehand. There’s a bloody bus service from the terminal to Millport where there are two cycle hire shops and a flat road around this tiny island. Folk that are too bloody lazy to walk or cycle can sit in several bars on the front. Cars are a pain in the buttocks for all those trying to cycle with their weans.
6 thoughts on “CalMac’s 54 sailings a day, on-time 100%, but allegedly past its ‘sell-by-date’ Cumbrae ferry is younger than 7 they did already sell to Ireland and barely half the age of 3 still in service in Canada”
”Users hit with queues of three hours …” Has The Herald’s Admiral Williams ever tried getting a ferry at Dover ?
Imagine – queues at Largs ! Well there are loads of wee cafes and pubs etc to pass the time in – unlike being stuck in queues at Dover.
And I don’t suppose many drivers have EVER turned up at a ferry ANYWHERE without booking in advance and had to WAIT their turn !
Largs to Cumbrae and return are a turn up and join the que sailings, you can pre purchase a ticket which doesn’t allow you to choose which sailing you get on. You join the que. A car and passenger costs under £10 for God’s sake.
Just watching the BBC series Island Crossing. Doom and gloom for poor old Calmac. Member of staff explains that if the link spans broke, not owned by Calmac, so no sailings will occur, somebody just said that no ferry operator in the world operates with a surplus of ships which can fill in any gaps.
Every single comment from the presenter contains some kind of negative inserted.
FERRY SERVICES IN SCOTLAND ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD. REGARDING TWO FERRIES,INTERFERENCE FROM ENGLISH CIVIL SERVANTS IN SCOTLAND ! LOTS OF CHANGES DEMANDED! WE ARE HAVING TO WAIT FOR 2 BOATS COMING FROM TURKEY, CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE INTERRUPTED DELIVERY!! HOW IS THE ISLE WIGHT MANAGING WITH ONE AIRCRAFT CARRIER! THE OTHER RUSTING, LKE 9 ENGLISH SUBMARINES IN SCOTLAND!!??. ANSWERS FROM WASTEMONSTER! WASTING TRILLIONS OF SCOTLAND,S FINANCE! WESTMINSTER NOT SAFE TO BE INDEPENDENT!!
Talking-up Scotland 
”Users hit with queues of three hours …” Has The Herald’s Admiral Williams ever tried getting a ferry at Dover ?
Imagine – queues at Largs ! Well there are loads of wee cafes and pubs etc to pass the time in – unlike being stuck in queues at Dover.
And I don’t suppose many drivers have EVER turned up at a ferry ANYWHERE without booking in advance and had to WAIT their turn !
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Largs to Cumbrae and return are a turn up and join the que sailings, you can pre purchase a ticket which doesn’t allow you to choose which sailing you get on. You join the que. A car and passenger costs under £10 for God’s sake.
Golfnut
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Just watching the BBC series Island Crossing. Doom and gloom for poor old Calmac. Member of staff explains that if the link spans broke, not owned by Calmac, so no sailings will occur, somebody just said that no ferry operator in the world operates with a surplus of ships which can fill in any gaps.
Every single comment from the presenter contains some kind of negative inserted.
Golfnut.
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Some perspective regards ferry’s
https://www.facebook.com/100083508605127/posts/pfbid02DD5uhw8o5u2LuPT2MUm2pZ3J5B4arJ8LTLx5K8AtfVWZQGhYE3f4WLd1BPkPsVoNl/
Golfnut
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FERRY SERVICES IN SCOTLAND ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD. REGARDING TWO FERRIES,INTERFERENCE FROM ENGLISH CIVIL SERVANTS IN SCOTLAND ! LOTS OF CHANGES DEMANDED! WE ARE HAVING TO WAIT FOR 2 BOATS COMING FROM TURKEY, CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE INTERRUPTED DELIVERY!! HOW IS THE ISLE WIGHT MANAGING WITH ONE AIRCRAFT CARRIER! THE OTHER RUSTING, LKE 9 ENGLISH SUBMARINES IN SCOTLAND!!??. ANSWERS FROM WASTEMONSTER! WASTING TRILLIONS OF SCOTLAND,S FINANCE! WESTMINSTER NOT SAFE TO BE INDEPENDENT!!
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