Professor John Robertson OBA
Today Red Funnel [should be Red Face] ferries on the Isle of Wight cancel sailings and disrupt travel because they spend too much on shareholder dividends and executive bonuses and thus don’t spend enough on maintenance or replacement.1
In October 2024, a late-arriving passenger was pushed into the screws, to his death, in Greece. Then the crews all went on strike for months, islanders ran out of food and, only three years before a ferry with 530 on board had sunk.2
In July 2024, a Channel Islands ferry kills French fishermen because the crew do not speak English or French well enough to warn them. Islanders run out of food, a replacement ferry cannot be berthed in bad weather and tourism collapses because the government dithers over tenders.3
In October 2024, in New Zealand, a harbourmaster is ‘bullied’ into accepting bigger ferries, unpiloted through narrows, despite four incidents of drifting out of control, running aground and hitting harbour walls in less than two years! Government cancels replacement ferries as too expensive despite these problems, and one ferry runs aground in a narrow strait because the only man on the bridge couldn’t press the override button properly.4
In 2024 and 2025, Washington State islanders miss doctor appointments, students miss classes, and car decks flood in the oldest ferries in the Western world with no replacements for years to come.5
In British Columbia, for years now, elderly ferries, high prices, dangerous crew shortages, massive delays and threats of violence toward crew. 6
I could go on. If you have the time, search the blog for Scilly, Malta, Tasmania, Korea, Croatia or Lake Ontario for further tales of ferry fiascos.
I’ve ignored Africa, Bangladesh, Philippines and Indonesia for obvious reasons – too many deaths, too much sinking.
Finally for the truth of the CalMac service, you won’t hear on the BBC or read of in the Herald, see:
https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=CalMac
Sources:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Should anyone book a holiday for their family on a Scottish island this summer?
Should a bank or other investor support a business based on a Scottish island that relies on serving customers off island?
Should anyone thinking of moving from the UK mainland or elsewhere to set up a family home or set up a business on a Scottish island?
Should any resident of a Scottish island with the option of continuing to make a life there or moving to a mainland location choose the former?
Should a business on the UK mainland or elsewhere enter into a contract to supply a customer on a Scottish island?
Of course they should – many have already done so. But looking forward, what weight should those faced with the above decisions place on the views expressed (March 5, 2025) in the UK parliament by the UK Government’s Under-Secretary at the Scotland Office, Kirsty McNeill (Labour MP for Midlothian):
‘John Swinney and the SNP have left Scotland’s islands with no functioning ferry network.’
Source: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5255/writtenquestions#expand-1781282
It’s worth repeating this Scottish Office minister’s judgement: ‘NO FUNCTIONING FERRY NETWORK’ in Scotland is what this UK Government minister stated in an official response to a question from a Conservative MP!!!!
It is only because the UK mainstream media has chosen NOT to amplify this assessment that the potential damage to Scotland’s island communities of such an outrageous comment by a British Labour Party MP and Minister, supposedly representing Scotland, will be less that it might have been.
This kind of trashing of Scotland by British Labour Party MPs elected to Scottish constituencies – presumably to further their support for the Union – should not be minimised, should not be forgotten!
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The Port of Cromarty Firth in Scotland is a major hub for the floating offshore wind industry.
Last week Ian Murray announced over £55 million for its expansion – creating hundreds of skilled jobs and generating growth, helping deliver the UK government’s Plan for Change and claimed the UK government is paving the way for cutting-edge floating offshore wind technology through its Plan for Change.
Labour has not been in power for a year and this announcement of funding for Port of Cromarty Firth help to ‘pave’ Phase Five.
But funding in this sector comes from a multitude of sources and this Labour government has a habit of taking credit but not giving credit.
The Guide below was published in January 2025. It was authored by Ruth Wilson-Nash, Sam Porteous, James Taylor, Lorna Bennet, Andrew Macdonald and John Walker.
https://www.offshorewindscotland.org.uk/the-scottish-offshore-wind-industry/sowec/sowec-publications/sowec-innovation-guide/
“This report by SOWEC (Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council showcases how offshore wind developers can use innovation projects to help grow Scotland’s supply chain and speed up the delivery of green energy production.
Developed in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the SOWEC Innovation Guide highlights the cutting-edge innovation happening right across Scotland’s offshore wind industry, including undersea cabling surveying, drone turbine inspections, and subsea battery storage.”
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ps. Humza Yousaf was paving the way in 2023.
https://www.scottishrenewables.com/news/1404-scottish-government-announces-500-million-commitment-to-scotlands-offshore-wind-supply-chain
“As part of his closing speech at the SNP Conference today (October 17) in Aberdeen, First Minister Humza Yousaf announced that the Scottish Government will invest up to £500 million in the next five years for Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain.
Responding Emma Harrick, Emma Harrick, Head of Energy Transition and Supply Chain at Scottish Renewables, said:
“Today’s announcement from the Scottish Government is welcome news for industry and is something Scottish Renewables has continuously campaigned for.
“The £500 million commitment will stimulate growth for supply chain organisations, foster export opportunities and promote the development of green skills in communities.
“Scottish ports are the lynchpin for our offshore renewable ambitions and investing in this critical infrastructure will ensure the nation benefits from the fresh economic investment and regeneration opportunities a home-grown clean energy supply chain brings.
“A recent report from the Offshore Wind Industry Council highlighted that the UK offshore wind supply chain has the potential to deliver more than £90 billion of value to the UK economy by 2040. Targeted interventions, like today’s announcement, will ensure Scotland maximises the economic benefits of our renewable energy projects, grow the renewable energy supply chain and ensure a just transition for suppliers across all green energy technologies.”
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