There certainly is lots going on in the Scottish ferry world right now… Here is a roundup of some recent news:
Argyll and Bute Council will receive just under £1m from the Scottish Government to support council-run ferry services such as the Lismore and Easdale ferries.
Parliament’s enquiry into Scottish ferry procurement continues, focussing on the problems at Fergusons and the two new ferries being built there. This link, and this link, and this link show a selection of reports. (Our submission to the enquiry can be read here)
Western Ferries announce record profits and are considering a return to serving Islay with a dedicated freight service.
Pentland Ferries took delivery of their new catamaran ferry Alfred last Autumn, and last month the company won a green tourism award, in recognition of the Alfred’s class-leading fuel efficiency. Alfred also maintains an excellent reliability record, sailing through recent storms when her mono-hull Northlink competitor has spent a total of seven days tied up in port.
Lochmaddy Pier is to benefit from £10m of investment, in preparation for the arrival of the very-late and very-overspent Hull 802.
The Corran Ferry may be replaced by a bridge or a tunnel. Highland Council are investigating options for the future.
Extra Sailings are being added to CalMac timetables for Skye, Lewis and Harris.
Gourock Pier receiving £2.5m of repair work to reinstate it as a back-up ‘port of refuge’ for Arran and Rothesay services.
CMAL-owned Tiree Pier is getting a new linkspan, but works are being delayed for a week to catch up on the backlog of freight traffic caused by recent bad weather cancellations. (Coll had a new linkspan deck installed in the Autumn last year.)
Mull is not in the ferry news. No ferry investment, no increase in services, no pier upgrade to report. At least not yet.