CalMac‘s oldest ferry, the MV Isle of Cumbrae (above) is 50, launched in 1976. the MV Isle of Arran is 43 and there are another 4 built in 1986, so 40 years-old.

In British Columbia‘s (Canada) archipelago ferry service – BC Ferries – which operates in an economy with twice the GDP of Scotland, with only a fraction of government subsidy to keep ticket prices down and in warmer, less stormy, more southerly, seas, they keep them going long after the MSM operating in Scotland would be calling for them to be replaced to stop islanders starving, missing medical appointments and then leaving altogether.

Today in Chek News:

One of BC Ferries oldest vessels will be completing its final sailing on Friday, ending 57 years of service.

The Tachek, which was built in 1969, is the company’s second oldest ferry, a title it holds alongside the Quadra Queen II.

Only the Queen of New Westminster, built in 1964, is older than the two ferries.

Source: https://cheknews.ca/one-of-bc-ferries-oldest-ships-to-complete-final-sailing-friday-1332535/

So a 62 year-old BCF still in service and a 57 year-old just being taking out of service while Calmac’s oldest, a 50 year-old, is only the reserve for the teeny Largs-Cumbrae crossing.

How’s the 62 year-old BCF doing?

The ugly, typically blunt-nosed 62 year-old BCF and CalMac’s ‘elderly’ Isle of Mull (40), below demonstrate that our ferries are better looking too? And, don’t you need a sharp bow for speed?

The MV Queen of New Westminster is one of BC Ferries’ oldest active vessels (built in 1964, now ~62 years old in 2026), and its reliability has declined noticeably in recent years due to age-related mechanical problems.

Recent Reliability Issues

• Major 2024–2025 outage: In September 2024, the starboard propeller sheared off due to structural fatigue in the shaft . This led to around 200 days out of service for repairs on both propeller systems, rudder fixes, and the annual refit. It cost ~$5.5 million in repairs (plus lost revenue) and returned in March 2025. https://www.bcferries.com/news-releases/queen-of-new-westminster-returns-to-service-as-bc-ferries-manages-a-complex-refit-system
• Ongoing problems in 2026: It has had pitch control, gearbox, and other mechanical issues causing cancellations/delays e.g., multiple sailings cancelled in March 2026. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/issue-with-bc-ferries-oldest-vessel-leads-to-cancelled-sailings-12050799
• Broader context: As one of BC Ferries’ “legacy” or Queen-class vessels, it contributes to fleet-wide challenges. Cancellations across BC Ferries have risen (though most sailings still run: ~98.6% completion in FY2025), with aging ships causing longer, more unpredictable downtime due to parts scarcity and fatigue. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/what-s-changed-for-b-c-ferries-cancellations-and-delays-9.7194665

Public and media sentiment often describes it as increasingly unreliable lately (“spends more time bobbing than sailing“), though some long-time users still call it a “tough old workhorse” that was very dependable on certain routes in the past.

‘Very dependable on certain routes in the past?’

Try that on Julian, 76, of Arran and Husbands Bosworth, Leicester.