From the Herald (SoS) today, the above and:

This is a new low for Maritime Williams, the Herald’s Captain Hogwash.

’15 of 33 vessels now at least 30 or over?’

There 37 CalMac ferries in service and there are 15 in that age range. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne_fleet

Who to compare with? Washington State Ferries, operating out of Seattle to a comparable island archipelago in the USA and British Columbia Ferries, operating out of Vancouver to a comparable island archipelago in Canada, but both areas with a GDP far higher than in Scotland.

Isle of Wight and Channel Island ferries are far too small for comparison. Norway is far too affluent and is moving to tunnels. Greek ferries and those in South-Asia are far, far, worse, often buying discarded CalMac vessels.

Washington State Ferries, has 21 vessels with 11 of them 30 years and over. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_State_Ferries_fleet

British Columbia Ferries has 37 vessels with 17 of them 30 years and over. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_BC_Ferries_ships

So, vessels over 30, all three have around half over 30 suggesting CalMac is not unusual much as the Herald might wish. how about the average?

Washington State – 35; BC Ferries – 28; CalMac – 26.

Older ferries?

Over 40, launched in 1986 or before?

Washington State – 11; BC Ferries – 12; CalMac – 2.

Over 50, launched in 1976 or before?

Washington State – 5; BC Ferries – 7; CalMac – 1.

Oldest?

Washington State – 1959; BC Ferries – 1964; CalMac – 1976.

Is there a recommedend maximum age for a RORO ferry?

No single universal recommended maximum age exists for a ro-ro (or RoPax) ferry. There is no international regulatory hard cutoff based purely on age (from IMO, SOLAS, or major classification societies). Safety rules focus on condition, surveys, maintenance, damage stability, and fitness for purpose rather than a fixed year limit.

• CalMac replacement planning typically starts around 25 years, with an expected working life of about 30 years.
• BC Ferries: Typical lifespan cited around 45 years.
• Washington State Ferries: Planned useful life of 60 years.

Finally, 7 former and pretty elderly CalMac ferries are still running in one of the most affluent countries in Europe, Ireland. MV Eigg (1974) Clare Island Ferries MV Kilbrannan (1972) as above, renamed MV Clew Bay Queen, MVs Rhum, Canna, Coll & Morvern, (1974/1975) Arranmore Ferries. MVs Kyleakin & Kyle of Lochalsh (1970), Carrigloe crossing, County Cork. Source: You can find them all on wikipedia.