Professor John Robertson OBA

BC Ferries, based in archipelago around Vancouver in Canada operates 41 ferries to 47 locations. CalMac operates 36 vessels with another 5 being built to 50 locations. In Scotland, CalMac operates in stormier seas but otherwise they are similar.

Today, the MV Hebridean Isles, 40 years-old, is off to the breakers yard.

CalMac are often accused in the media of operating elderly, unreliable, vessels so how many older or the same age than the MV Hebridean Isles are BC Ferries still running?

Just these:

14 older than or the same age as the 40 year-old CalMac is scrapping.

How many does CalMac have older than 40? Two – the MV Isle of Cumbrae (49) and the MV Isle of Arran (42).

Stormier seas?

Even Oban is twice as windy as Vancouver and the Stornoway vessels face winds more than three times as strong.