By Professor John Robertson OBE
From BBC Cornwall, yesterday:
Final preparations are under way for the Scillonian III ferry to start sailing to the Isles of Scilly next month on what could be her last season. The vessel came into service in 1977 and has made more than 10,000 trips to the islands.
Senior managers at the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) have said the ferry was now 48 years old and it was now time to look forward. Her replacement, the Scillonian IV, and a new cargo vessel were both under construction in Vietnam and were scheduled to enter service in the spring of 2026. The Scillonian III has made the 36 mile (58km) journey from Penzance harbour to St Mary’s harbour on the Isles of Scilly more than 10,000 times.
The ferry has travelled over 388,500 nautical miles and carried over five million passengers since entering service in 1977. However, the 223ft (68m) ship, which sails between March and November, has experienced some mechanical issues. An engine problem meant she had to operate on half power for a few days in September 2024 and journey times were increased from two hours 45 mins to four hours.
Gosh, maybe that Mull Tory Councillor has holidayed there and learned things that he could pass on to CalMac.
What’s the first thing? Don’t have major, sea-going, ferries that are too old?
The oldest at CalMac is the 40 year -old MV Isle of Arran1 and the average age of a CalMac ferry is 24 compared to those in Norway (28), Australia (26) and British Columbia, Canada (37!).2
What’s the second thing? Don’t take nearly twice as long on a regular basis.
I must ask that Mull councillor if that has happened. He didn’t mention it.
What’s the third thing? Don’t build on the cheap in South-east Asia?
CalMac haven’t done that but privately-owned Pentland Ferries, serving Orkney, have. How has that gone?
In April 2023:
A sudden mechanical failure is likely to have been the cause of a car ferry grounding in Orkney, the coastguard has said. The MV Pentalina [Built in the Philippines, 2007] had 60 people on board when it grounded at St Margaret’s Hope on Saturday night. Smoke had been detected in the engine room of the Pentland Ferries vessel beforehand.3
These things can happen. Was it just a one one off? Weeell, no. Her sister ship the MV Alfred ran aground too, in 2022:
The captain of a ferry now serving on the Arran route “almost certainly fell asleep” when it was grounded on an island in the Pentland Firth, a report has found. Some 41 people were injured when the MV Alfred [built in Vietnam 2019] grounded on Swona on July 5, 2022 on a crossing to St Margaret’s Hope in Orkney. A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has found that the ship “routinely” passed too close to land, and crew may not have been following proper procedures.4
That’s quite a hit rate for these two same design, cheap-build, ferries.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne_fleet
- https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/strategic-framework-of-options-for-the-chfs-network-project-neptune/benchmarking
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-65441218
- https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/24338449.mv-alfred-accident-route-orkney-left-41-people-injured/
Talking-up Scotland 