21.6% of CalMac boats out of service but Washington State USA has had 40% out and New Zealand has had 100% out

BC Ferries in Canada’s MV Queen of New Westminster, 1964, 20 years older than CalMac’s oldest, the relief vessel the MV isle of Arran

According to STV today, CalMac has 8 ferries out of action.1

CalMac currently has 37 vessels.2 Another 3 are due from Turkey within the year.3

So, 8 out of 37, 21.6%.

How unusual is that in a ferry service operating in the developed world?

In May 2024, in affluent (twice the GDP) Washington State USA, 6 out of their 21 ferries, 28.6% were out of service. In November 2023, 8 out of 21 were out of service, 38%.4

In June 2024, 2 of the 5 Toronto Islands ferries were out of action, 40%.

Also, in May 2024, in affluent New Zealand, all 3 of the Cook strait ferries were out of action at the same time – 100%.5

Finally, BC Ferries of Vancouver Canada, are so short of ferries they’re bringing a 60 year-old boat back into service.6

Sources:

  1. https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/calmac-vessel-shortages-worsen-as-eighth-ferry-mv-lord-of-the-isles-out-of-action
  2. https://www.cmassets.co.uk/ferries/fleet-facts/
  3. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/scotlands-four-ferries-ahead-schedule-113704613.html
  4. https://globalnews.ca/news/10568895/toronto-island-ferries-wait-times/
  5. https://www.thedcn.com.au/sticky/deep-maintenance-to-take-cook-strait-ferries-out/

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