Professor John Robertson OBA, Global Ferry Correspondent 2022-2025
Something else I missed, almost a year ago:
CalMac’s determination to provide a reliable ferry service to Scotland’s west coast communities has been demonstrated through its latest annual accounts, which show spending on maintenance has almost doubled in six years. The latest annual report for David MacBrayne Ltd, and a separate report for its main operating subsidiary, CalMac, were lodged this week.
In the financial year ending March 2023, the annual report from DML shows that CalMac spent £36.5m on maintenance and its annual overhaul programme for the fleet during the financial year. With one third of vessels now over 30 years old and operating beyond their life expectancy, the spend has been essential to provide a lifeline service to island communities and is up from £20m in 2017. Transport Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd also contributed funding to support maintaining the fleet. Actual reliability was at 95%, up from 93% the previous year.
Did the Herald‘s Ferry Correspondent, Maritime Williams see it and ignore it? Who is BBC Scotland‘s Ferry Correspondent? Did one of their 17 research assistants see it but were afraid to tell anyone, again?
Luckily my old pal, Phil K ‘Kenny’ Dick [the Man in the High Broch], coming to BBC Alba soon, without Rufus Sewell] spotted it and did two of his spoof (SATIRE!) thingies (above). You remember, the ones that got me banned from Reddit for sharing them. Their thicko moderators said they were ‘fake news‘. Yes, I’m still banned there. Will calling them ‘thickos’ help my case?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Someone needs to ask why the Type 26 frigates are taking so long to hand over to the RN. 2028 is the earliest….
They’ve been designing them since 1998. You’d think the current crisis would see MPs asking ?
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The first steel for HMS Glasgow was laid in 2017 and frigate is expected to be in service at the end of 2028!
ps. The Fire Industry Association website reported on 2 January 2025 there was an issue with fire alarms not being heard by the workers.
Everyone knows this would have been milked by the opposition parties in Holyrood and Westminster; Good Morning Scotland, and Reporting Scotland for days had the issue occured on the MV Glen Rosa.
https://www.fia.uk.com/news/construction-of-hms-glasgow-temporarily-halted-over-fire-safety-concerns.html
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The first steel for HMS Glasgow was laid in 2017 and frigate is expected to be in service at the end of 2028!
ps. The Fire Industry Association website reported on 2 January 2025 there was an issue with fire alarms not being heard by the workers.
Everyone knows this would have been milked by the opposition parties in Holyrood and Westminster; Good Morning Scotland, and Reporting Scotland for days had the issue occured on the MV Glen Rosa.
https://www.fia.uk.com/news/construction-of-hms-glasgow-temporarily-halted-over-fire-safety-concerns.html
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If Calmac ferry breaks down – critics will complain about the lack of essential maintenance .
Calmac doubles spend on ferry maintenance – critics WILL STILL complain when ferry is taken out of service for essential maintenance.
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Ferries, fashion, what’s the difference when it comes to propaganda, bit like standing as a Tory, defecting as an independent then defecting to fascist ‘Reform’…taking the p**s aren’t they.
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Royal navy maintenance program for the surface fleet is £2 billion averages £28 million per ship, fleet of 70 just double the size of Calmac includes many coastal patrol vessels. Frigates, Destroyers spend more time tied up than at sea.
Golfnut
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