Calmac’s own advisory board has warned breakdown chaos on west coast services is causing significant economic damage and having a detrimental impact on family lives, as the problems were raised in the Scottish Parliament.
The widespread disruption, caused by an ageing fleet, is expected to continue until the middle of May, with services across the network from Tiree to Colonsay, Coll, Uist, Lewis and Islay suffering.
Cuts in timetabled sailings, deployment of vessels with inadequate capacities and inability to book even available space in some cases are all adversely impacting communities and the sustainability of local businesses, CalMac’s Community Board said.
Calmac itself yesterday admitted that it had handled 12,500 calls from customers in the past five days.
John Finnie MSP, Scottish Greens Transport and Islands spokesman, raised the issue at topical questions. He revealed figures showing that there were 3,852 cancellations on CalMac services in the last five years, caused as a result of mechanical failure.
Mr Finnie said: “Ferries provide lifeline services to island communities, and support the hugely important tourist trade. The figures I have obtained from CalMac reveal an astonishing number of cancellations caused by mechanical breakdowns. Every reasonable person accepts that any transport systems can experience delays and cancellations, but this number is completely unacceptable.
“The Scottish Government’s own documents acknowledge that there needs to be wide scale replacement of the existing CalMac fleet, and our island communities are crying out for more reliable services.”
Angus Campbell, chairman of CalMac Community Board, said: “There is huge frustration that when at peak times and periods of full capacity the service is at serious risk if even one vessel is out of action as at present.”
The board is to work with CalMac to formulate a plan including more robust contingency measures.
Islanders on Coll, Colonsay and Tiree have been hit by the loss of the Clansman which is in dry dock with propeller problems. When it finally comes out in the middle of next month, it will go straight to the Uig Triangle route to allow the Hebrides to go into dry dock.
The Argyll islands will be served by a smaller vessel.
Ian Gillies, secretary of Tiree Community Council, said: “The Clansman is being taken away to the Uig triangle to deal with the impact of cultural events. We also have cultural events coming up and the Lord of the Isles is not going to be able to cope with the traffic.”
CalMac managing director, Robbie Drummond, said: “Staff are working overtime to reassign bookings on to the amended timetable and deal with new customer reservations. The most important thing for our customers is that they know with as much certainty as possible that the journey they are booked on will run, we are working pretty much round the clock to provide that certainty.”
A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: “While these issues are an operational matter for CalMac, we understand the frustration of the communities which rely on their ferry services.
“Transport Scotland has today had discussions with CalMac where they have confirmed they are exploring additional sailing to help ease the pressure and that they will continue to review all of their options.
“Our Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan, which has been agreed by Scottish Ministers, identified the Outer Hebrides routes as a priority. Work is already underway to appraise, and subsequently to deliver on further improvements to the ferry services to the Western Isles including the important Ullapool-Stornoway route.”
Additional arrangements being made by CalMac to ease potential disruption include the deployment of the Loch Bhrusda to Mallaig Armadale to provide additional cover; an additional vessel on Claonaig Lochranza route on the weekends of May 4, 11 and 18. Additional sailings to Islay are being looked at leading up to the weekend of May 4.
