From BBC Scotland today:

Ferry fares in Scotland will increase by 10% from next year, the Scottish government has confirmed.

The rise will take effect from 1 January 2025 on the Northern Isles network and from 28 March on the west coast.

CalMac’s services in the west have been under particular pressure due to ageing vessels, with the main Arran ferry out of action for most of the year.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a fare freeze in place this year had cost £10m and it would be “too challenging to continue”. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly40y40pq9o?at_format=link&at_link_origin=BBCScotlandNews&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_type=web_link&at_medium=social&at_link_id=A28BEBDA-8A30-11EF-A859-B34A7FBC4FAB&at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=twitter

She said fares were frozen for 2023-24 instead of a 9.1% inflationary increase to help people and businesses during the cost of living crisis and recovery from the Covid pandemic.

^{https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly40y40pq9o?at_format=link&at_link_origin=BBCScotlandNews&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_type=web_link&at_medium=social&at_link_id=A28BEBDA-8A30-11EF-A859-B34A7FBC4FAB&at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=twitter}

So, on the prices:

From Isle of Wight County Press letters page, today:

I am writing to express my utter outrage and profound frustration regarding the outrageous increase in ferry ticket prices. This is a blatant exploitation of those who rely on this essential service, and it is high time someone took a stand.

In recent months, the cost of ferry tickets has spiralled out of control, making it virtually impossible for many families, workers, and tourists to afford basic transportation. What was once a reasonable means of travel has now become a financial burden that is choking the life out of local economies and driving people away.

As someone who owns a property advertised on Airbnb and Home Swap, I have directly suffered the consequences. This year alone, I’ve had multiple booking cancellations because guests refuse to pay the extortionate ferry prices. 

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/24545611.isle-wight-ferry-prices-high-prevent-tourists-coming/

How do CalMac prices compare?

Furious Isle of Wight locals have accused ferry companies of holding them to ransom and say they can’t wait to move after being charged £440 for a return ticket to the mainland. 

Islanders say they cannot afford to cross the Channel due to soaring costs and unreliable services.

‘Ridiculous’ ferry prices, cancellations, and delays are blighting their lives with some now wishing they had never moved to the island who say it is making them feel ‘completely cut off from society’.  

The longest Isle of Wight crossing is 10 miles. Ardrossan to Arran is 17.3 miles.

A return trip from Ardrossan to the frankly far more beautiful island of Arran leaving tomorrow and returning next Friday costs:

The shorter Southampton to Isle of Wight crossing, in high season, costs SEVEN times as much!

One of the two ferry companies, Wightlink, paid £8 million in dividends to its shareholders in 2022.

Account of Wightlink’s Financial History

On the ‘Elderly ferries’:

The Herald’s Martin Williams self-described ‘leading journalist on the issue‘ of ferry reliability even has his own newsletter dedicated to fuelling the fake ferry fiasco but when you click on the links you get under the heading SCOTLAND’s FERRIES, one story on bicycles, one on 20 minute neighbourhoods and a fight in Falkirk, one story on trains and two on air travel.

Impressive start, eh?

Anyhow, it’s all about the ‘breakdowns of its ageing fleet.’

There’s a problem or two here. They’re not ageing nor are they breaking down much compared to other comparable fleets.

Ageing first:

1. In terms of age, interesting in the light of media headlines here, Scotland’s ferries are the newest with an average of 22 years, with Australian ferries at 24, Norwegian at 26 and the Canadian ferries at 35! https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/strategic-framework-of-options-for-the-chfs-network-project-neptune/benchmarking/
2. 7 former and pretty elderly CalMac ferries 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, MVs Rhum, Canna, Coll & Morvern, (1974/1975) Arranmore Ferries. MVs Kyleakin & Kyle of Lochalsh (1970), Carrigloe crossing, County Cork. Source: You can find them all on wikipedia.
3. In British Columbia, Canada: The 47 year-old replacement ferry, the MV Queen of Alberni, is also ‘in the shop’ experiencing mechanical problems with its main engine, forcing several sailings to be cancelled: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2747831
4. In Greece: MV Orion (formerly MV Saturn, Scottish Gaelic: Satharn, and MV Orcadia) is a ro-ro passenger and vehicle ferry. Saturn was operated by Caledonian MacBrayne in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland between 1978 and 2011, for the first decade of her career on the Rothesay crossing. In 2021 she was sold to Creta Cargo Lines, Greece, renamed Orion, and towed to Perama for conversion to increase freight capacity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Orcadia

On breakdowns:

1. CalMac is operating at 95.4% average reliability with currently more than 500 sailings and not one destination with no sailings: https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser
2. In Canada last week, three ferries breakdown in quick succession but no one blames the government: https://biv.com/article/2023/08/resilience-put-test-bc-ferries-tries-cope-high-traffic-staff-shortages-vessel
3. In Canada in July, BC Ferries cancel 1 163 sailings due to staff shortages https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2023/07/13/BC-Ferries-Cancelling-Sailings-Jobs/. CalMac pays the Living Wage: https://www.calmac.co.uk/article/5037/Caledonian-MacBrayne-named-as-the-Living-Wage-Foundations-Scottish-Champion-2016

Other factors:

1. Turkey ferry building: 25 deaths in the last 11 months at Tuzla, on the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-shipbuilding-eu-idUKL2424720320080710
2. Turkey ferry building: According to TIB DER, around 100 workers have died on shipyards since 1985, fifty alone since 2001: https://m.bianet.org/kurdi/health/104852-how-many-more-shipyard-deaths
3. Subsidy per passenger: In Scotland, it averages £29.80 per passenger journey. In Canada (BC), it is only just over half at £16.36 and in Australia, only just over one-tenth at £3.86. https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/strategic-framework-of-options-for-the-chfs-network-project-neptune/benchmarking/

You’d think the leading journalist on the issue might know some of this stuff.