Scotland’s publicly-owned ferry operator, CalMac, has spent nearly £100 million on repairs to its ageing fleet over the past decade, according to figures released by the Scottish Conservative Party. This staggering sum highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the operator in maintaining reliable services for Scotland’s island communities.
The repair bill for eight of CalMac’s largest vessels has reached £98 million in the past ten years. The MV Caledonian Isles, which serves the crucial Ardrossan-Brodick route, has incurred the highest repair costs at £22 million. Other vessels with significant repair bills include the MV Isle of Lewis (£15.2 million), MV Lord of the Isles (£14.6 million), and MV Isle of Mull (£14.4 million).
Sue Webber, the Scottish Conservative transport spokeswoman, criticised the Scottish Government’s handling of the ferry network, stating: “The SNP have betrayed islanders at every turn and left them relying on out-of-date vessels. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pick up the tab for the SNP’s incompetence.”
She added that the government has “run the ferry network into the ground” and spent “eye-watering” sums on repairs.
Government Response
In response to the criticism, a Transport Scotland spokeswoman defended the government’s position: “Delivering and deploying six new major vessels to serve Scotland’s ferry network from early 2025 is a priority for this Government and this will help alleviate the need for extensive repairs on older vessels.”
The spokeswoman also emphasised that maintenance and repairs are essential for health, safety, and reliability reasons.
A CalMac spokeswoman acknowledged the high repair costs but explained their necessity: “This spend has been essential to maintaining a reliable ferry service to Scotland’s west coast communities, with a third of our fleet of vessels now operating beyond their life expectancy.” She also pointed out that ship repair and maintenance activities are subject to wider market forces, which have led to significant cost increases in recent years.
The Scottish Government has committed to investing in ferry services, with plans to introduce six new major vessels and seven smaller ones in the coming years.
This fleet renewal program aims to improve service reliability and reduce the need for extensive repairs on older vessels. As the debate over Scotland’s ferry services continues, the balance between maintaining ageing vessels and investing in new ones remains a critical issue for island communities and policymakers alike.
