So, in other parts of the developed world, a ferry passenger pushed to his death by the crew, fishermen killed by crew who don’t speak English, car decks flooded, one ferry runs aground because the only man on the bridge pressed the button wrongly, really old ferries, high prices, endless cancellations but in Scotland a one-day delay to fix a wee weld crack is an ‘SNP ferry fiasco?’

Professor John Robertson OBA

The discovery of a small crack in the hull of the MV Glen Sannox, a common event in new ships, and the 24 hour period out of service, has triggered an unholy, slavering media feeding frenzy, wholly out of proportion to the event.

These objectively far more serious incidents in other parts of the developed world, have attracted far less attention and virtually no blaming of political parties or governments.

On March 9th 2025, 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 earlier a ferry with 530 on board had sunk.2

In July 2024, a Channel Islands ferry kills two French fishermen because the Ukrainian 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:

Sources:

  1. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Wight
  2. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Greek
  3. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Channel+Islands+ferry
  4. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=New+Zealand
  5. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Washington
  6. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=BC+Ferr
  7. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=CalMac

7 thoughts on “So, in other parts of the developed world, a ferry passenger pushed to his death by the crew, fishermen killed by crew who don’t speak English, car decks flooded, one ferry runs aground because the only man on the bridge pressed the button wrongly, really old ferries, high prices, endless cancellations but in Scotland a one-day delay to fix a wee weld crack is an ‘SNP ferry fiasco?’”

    1. Of what possible interest is that to the readers of DJ? How on earth did it make its way into that publication?

      Mind, it would have made more sense for MSM to publicise it like this rather than the breathless anticipation of big problems, setting SM alight with all the “ferry welding experts” posting their valuable opinions.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. No matter kelticgirl what British publication it’s in, if they believe it’s another opportunity to denigrate Scotland, the Scottish people, the Scottish Government, or in particular, the S.N.P, it will be taken with alacrity. Just more brainwashing that’s being going on for hundreds of years. More fool some for believing their propaganda.

        Liked by 2 people

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  3. It is so sad that media reporting, if that it what it is, has become so poor.

    What sort of professionalism does that portray to those who want to become a Journalist as a career? The current crop have degraded the term “Journalist” so much as to be a pointless career.

    The papers argument would be that they have so few staff these days, that they cannot do any proper research into the subject before a deadline is reached. They should maybe question the root causes of why they have so few staff, or indeed readers..

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. part of a statement made by Tasmania’s Transport Minister –
    “The relentless negativity is hurting the state’s economic opportunities, and it’s time to move forward together.”

    Remind you of anywhere?

    Liked by 2 people

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