CalMac have just replaced their oldest large ferry though it’s younger than 11 still in service in affluent Washington State and 13 in British Columbia

From BBC Scotland, yesterday: The oldest large ferry in the CalMac fleet has been redeployed to a new route after the new ship Glen Sannox took over sailings to Arran. MV Isle of Arran, a 41-year-old ship nicknamed the Auld Trooper, will be based at Oban and used as a second vessel on the Mull route. MV Caledonian Isles will then partner MV Glen Sannox on the Arran route but, unlike the new ship, can operate out of Ardrossan, which has better onward transports links and offers the shortest sailings to the island. Washington State Ferries in the USA, has … Continue reading CalMac have just replaced their oldest large ferry though it’s younger than 11 still in service in affluent Washington State and 13 in British Columbia

The Arran ferry service is one of the best in the world and the Mail’s Jonathon Brocklebank’s account is ill-informed, politicised, gossip

By Professor John Robertson, Genuine Ferry Correspondent From Jonathon Brocklebank of the ‘Scottish’ Daily Mail, today: People rely on the ferries to get on and off Arran. But the SNP’s ruinous handling of our lifeline service means that it is simply no longer fit for purpose Here’s what he missed: First, The MV Caledonian Isles was taken off the Arran/Ayrshire (Ardrossan or Troon) service and replaced by the MV Alfred to partner the MV Isle of Arran. There has been 1 cancellation, with these two vessels in the last 100 sailings – 99% reliable.  https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=27%2F09%2F2024 The brand new MV Glen Sannox … Continue reading The Arran ferry service is one of the best in the world and the Mail’s Jonathon Brocklebank’s account is ill-informed, politicised, gossip

Even with a 10% fare increase for the Arran crossing, the nearest equivalent crossing in England, to the Isle of Wight, is still 45% more, for half the journey, to pay shareholder dividends

By Professor John Robertson, UK Ferry Correspondent From the Largs & Millport Weekly News, yesterday: COUNCILLORS are attempting to freeze fares on both the Arran and Cumbrae ferry routes and prevent a price hike. At tomorrow’s North Ayrshire Council meeting, a motion is being put forward by Councillor Cameron Inglis calling for the local authority to write to cabinet secretary for transport, Fiona Hyslop, opposing the current proposal. The latest move comes after the Scottish Government’s decision to impose a 10 per cent increase in ferry fares for 2025-26, which has been lambasted by West Scotland Labour MSP Katy Clark and her Conservative counterpart Jamie … Continue reading Even with a 10% fare increase for the Arran crossing, the nearest equivalent crossing in England, to the Isle of Wight, is still 45% more, for half the journey, to pay shareholder dividends