The initial decision to separate ownership/procurement (CMAL) from operations (CalMac) in 2006, by Jack McConnell and Douglas Alexander, was based on the notion that it can create better incentives for efficiency and performance while allowing the public sector to retain strategic control over fares, service standards, routes, quality, and subsidies, to protect islanders.
Contrary to the media frenzy driven largely by an inarticulate, evidence-free, media-constructed popular culture and/or explicit opposition party opportunism, it has worked to protect islanders.
While some have insisted on comparison only with Norway, $2 trillion in the bank and full independence, while Scotland, one hand tied by devolution only, remains chained to a large country with massive import surpluses to feed and heat its population and consequent $3 trillion debt which we must share, there are two far more comparable systems – Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada), also not independent states.
Most obviously, Norway has around 130 ferries serving a similar number of ports and islands along a large coastline, while Scotland has 37 serving 50, Washington State has 21 serving 20 and BC Ferries have 41 serving 47 ports, in an archipelago clustering around one large city.
Finally, on Norway, comparison is limited, by one key factor – several of Scotland’s CalMac ferry routes, particularly those to the Outer Hebrides and more exposed western islands, require larger, more seaworthy vessels than many typical Norwegian domestic island/fjord routes.1 This stems from differences in sea conditions2, crossing lengths, weather exposure3, and operational needs, even though both countries serve remote island communities.
Larger, more seaworthy vessels cost more and take longer to build. Only a nationalised system, heavily subsidised, would or could build such vessels for communities with small, sometimes tiny, often struggling economies. The Scottish Government and all of us who voted for SNP have done this for them. It’s another example of becoming a better nation.
Here are the differences ill-informed supporters of the Norwegian model seem determined to hide:
Longer open-sea legs in the Atlantic-influenced waters of the Minch and Little Minch (e.g., Ullapool–Stornoway ~45–55 nautical miles; Oban–Castlebay/Barra ~80–100 nm; Uig triangle routes).
Rougher sea states with significant wave heights, strong tides, whirlpools (e.g., Corryvreckan), and exposure to Atlantic swells. Routes are classified under UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency rules (e.g., Class I/IIA for rough waters), requiring vessels with higher stability, stronger construction, and better seakeeping.
Need for capacity and comfort on longer sailings (2–5+ hours), including vehicle decks, passenger lounges, and sometimes overnight features.
Washington State ($807bn) does have a stronger economy than Scotland (GDP $211bn) while British Columbia’s is similar ($234bn). Both have ferry systems operating in more southerly, warmer and less stormy waters than CalMac, with the consequent pressure on vessel resilience.
So, how do they do? Very badly in contrast with Scotland. I have written several comparative reports here, revealing far higher costs for users, lower and delayed investment in new ferries resulting in more elderly fleets with lower reliability, and safety problems. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Sources:
- https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/41825/papers-4-dec-2017-little-minch-study-19-jul-2017-expert-ferry-group.pdf
- https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/apme/52/5/jamc-d-12-0138.1.xml
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne_fleet
- https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/05/19/missed-doctor-appointments-hours-long-delays-students-unable-to-get-to-school-and-flooded-car-decks-look-like-continuing-as-washington-state-ferries-delays-new-electric-ferries-and-bring-aging-old-d/
- https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/03/17/affluent-washington-state-refuses-to-fund-even-starting-the-replacement-of-50-year-old-plus-ferries-and-considers-return-of-one-at-nearly-70/
- https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/11/09/in-scotland-with-a-gdp-half-the-size-of-washington-state-usa-the-ferry-service-is-much-more-punctual-99-to-72-but-only-it-is-finedin/
- https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/03/29/factcheck-calmac-has-the-youngest-ferries-and-is-the-best-in-the-world/
- https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/04/02/bc-ferries-in-canada-just-beginning-to-think-of-replacing-four-ferries-between-7-and-19-years-older-than-the-oldest-major-calmac-vessel/
- https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/01/11/poisoned-waters-the-war-between-bc-ferries-and-its-union-but-in-scotland/
- https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/03/17/bc-ferries-in-canada-has-to-patch-up-60-year-old-ferry-for-busiest-route-as-replacements-not-yet-ordered-despite-it-being-19-years-older-than-scotlands-oldest-comparable-ferry/
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Talking-up Scotland 
Well yet again Ferries in Scotland are the big story for the BBC….and some other media too.
BBC website main Scotland page:
Top story – “Almost a third of CalMac’s ferry fleet out of action”
Third article – “Live: Ferries in the spotlight on election campaign trail”
Fifth article (for now) is the front pages of the newspapers distributed to us in Scotland (as opposed to them all being actual Scottish papers) and the BBC promoted them with this headline:
“Scotland’s papers: Trump’s Iran threats and ‘CalMac woes grow’
So I had a look at all of the front pages – and out of all of the newspaper front pages they had on their website , here is what I saw:
The Times – tiny section at bottom of page refers to “Ferries woes deepens”
The Scotsman – large headline at top of their front page “£10m Islands funds ‘too little too late’ as CalMac woes grow”
None of the other newspapers had anything about the Ferries on their front pages , so one wonders why then that the BBC had chosen to note on their main Scottish page a headline about the front pages of the newspapers that included “CalMac woes grow” when out of the seventeen front page news headlines , with various headlines, only two of them mentioned “CalMac woes” ?
Agenda much ?
You know if there were never any issues being noted with Ferries in Scotland by the BBC and others , but instead the Scottish government were considered by those same others, including the BBC, to be spending a disproportionate amount of time and energy upon Scottish Ferries , compared to what some of them stated were far more important matters, then I wonder how this same topic, i.e. Ferries in Scotland , would then be framed as a story by the BBC and all of the opposition parties ?
Perhaps this as an example “The SNP are accused of focusing too much time, energy and money on Ferries in Scotland while neglecting other crucial services”.
The rule is always that the SNP are damned if they do and damned if they don’t, but they are also judged far far more than all of the other parties within Scotland , but TBH it also seems to be that they are also judged far far more than other parties throughout the rest of the UK State as well.
We need more perspective , more proportion, more honesty, far more context but also within Scotland we are desperately needing far more balanced political news via the media , who as a media , are supposed to communicate all of the news in a non biased way but where clearly they are all mostly failing to do so.
Why is it that the same media who always jump on the #SNPBAD bandwagon are also those who are never willing to promote ,for the sake of balance and honesty ,all of the positive initiatives implemented by the SNP, as the Scottish government ?
Why indeed .
Since 2014 (and before if we are honest) the BBC have never been an honest broker when it comes to political news in Scotland , especially when it comes to the constitution. Their relentless attacks upon the SNP are based upon the fact that they , the BBC, are on the side of the UK State and so that is then how they present their version of every single story within Scotland, including the Ferries.
Everything is politicised in Scotland by the BBC , while similar subjects, incidents and situations throughout the UK State are not.
That is why no one in Scotland should either believe, trust nor repeat the news via any of the sources of the BBC news teams within Scotland. Simples.
Liz S
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