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 British Columbia, Canada (35!).
From the Tyee in October 2023:
The Crisis at BC Ferries – Why no reservations frequently means long waits on the main routes. https://thetyee.ca/News/2023/10/23/Crisis-BC-Ferries/
So, time to get on with so new ferry-building eh?
From Marine Link, today:
Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries announced it is moving forward with a program to build a series of new vessels for its busiest routes.
The company said on Monday it has put out a request for proposals (RFP) to pre-qualified shipyards for the construction of the first five of seven new vessels in its New Major Vessels (NMV) project, with contracts expected to be awarded in Spring 2025, subject to approval from the Ferry Commissioner. The first ship is intended to start service in 2029, with all five in service by 2031.
The remaining two vessels will be built in a later phase, with the aim to award shipbuilding contracts by 2033, which would mean those ships would enter service by approximately 2037. https://www.marinelink.com/news/bc-ferries-build-new-vessels-two-phases-517105
That fast? Imagine this was in Scotland.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
In so many different places, ferry services seem to be ‘problematic’. in some way. Below gives an insight into Mersey Ferries:
The current fleet consists of two vessels, the Royal Iris of the Mersey and Snowdrop. They entered service in the early 1960s on the Mersey – under different names – after being being launched in 1959 and received refits as long ago as 2002 and 2004, (according to Wikipedia)
The Mersey Ferries company website confirmed (in 2023) a plan to build “the first new Mersey Ferry for more than 60 years’’.
The plan has a longish history though. Back in 2019 (13 November) the BBC News website had this headline: ‘Plan for new Mersey ferries halted over ‘Brexit delay’’
‘Plans to build the first Mersey ferries for 60 years have been halted due to “market uncertainties” around Brexit, transport bosses have said.’ And added: ‘But Merseytravel said the UK’s delay in leaving the EU had “brought uncertainty to the bidding process”.Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram agreed it would be “irresponsible” to proceed.
In the 2019 article, ‘Merseytravel said, although the 60-year-old vessels were operating “beyond their expected lifespan”, paying for their replacements had been halted due to rising costs.
A BBC News article published earlier, on September 6, 2019 – under the headline ‘First new Mersey ferries in 60 years approved’ – reported:
‘Two new vessels, new bridges and an updated landing stage at the Seacombe terminal are part of a “priority list” of projects by the Combined Authority. It is part of a £172.5m package of sustainable transport improvements being appraised in the next five years.
‘Mayor Steve Rotheram said the existing ferries hold “a special place in our history and musical heritage” but “the time is ripe for investment”.
‘He added: “At 60 years old, and on one of the fastest flowing tidal rivers in the world, they are operating beyond their expected lifespan.”
Șo finally c.6 years later, Mersey Ferries will see the addition of just one new vessel – not two as was the original commitment. This new ferry will join the existing two ferries which entered service c.64 years ago.
LikeLiked by 3 people