Caledonian MacBrayne

Caledonian MacBrayne (Template:Langx), in short form CalMac, is the trade name of CalMac Ferries Ltd, the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries to the west coast of Scotland, serving ports on the mainland and 22 of the major islands. It is a subsidiary of holding company David MacBrayne, which is owned by the Scottish Government.<ref name="CalMac History" />

Its predecessor, the government owned Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, was formed in 1973 as a ferry owner and operator. In 2006 these functions were separated to meet EU requirements for competitive tendering. The company, renamed Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL), continued to own the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet and assets. The contract for operating Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services using these vessels was put out to open competitive tender. CalMac Ferries Ltd was created in October 2006 as a separate company to bid for the work.<ref name="CalMac History" /> CalMac was awarded the contract, as well as a later competitive procurement process, and since 1 October 2007 has operated the services.<ref name="CMAL About Us">Template:Cite web</ref>

CalMac operates 36 ferries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A further 5 vessels are currently under construction for the fleet. The company serves over 50 ports and harbours on the west coast of Scotland, with CMAL owning 16 of these ports and harbours. Caledonian MacBrayne operate on average over 162,700 sailings annually. 2018 was the company's busiest year in terms of passenger numbers, carrying an estimated 5,309,771 passengers.<ref name="About Us CalMac Ferries" /><ref name="CMAL Locations">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

File:Caledonian macbrayne logo.svg

Previous logo

The Caledonian MacBrayne headquarters building at Gourock pierhead and a visit from Template:MV and Template:MV

David MacBrayne

Template:Main MacBrayne's, initially known as David Hutcheson & Co., began in 1851 as a private steamship operator when G. and J. Burns, operators of the largest of the Clyde fleets, decided to concentrate on coastal and transatlantic services and handed control of their river and Highland steamers to a new company in which Hutcheson, their manager of these services, became senior partner. One of the other partners was David MacBrayne (1817–1907), nephew of Messrs. Burns. In 1878, the company passed to David MacBrayne.<ref name="history">Template:Cite web</ref>

Their main route went from Glasgow down the Firth of Clyde through the Crinan Canal to Oban and Fort William, and on through the Caledonian Canal to Inverness. Services were later added to Islay and the Outer Hebrides. In 1928, the company ran into financial difficulties, and the business was acquired by Coast Lines and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS Railway).<ref name="CalMac History">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1948, the shares in the company owned by the LMS Railway passed to the British Transport Commission, thus partially nationalising it. In July 1969, Coast Lines' 50% shareholding passed into state ownership, so that the company became wholly nationalised, and all the shares were transferred to the state-owned Scottish Transport Group.

Caledonian Steam Packet Company

Template:Main The Caledonian Railway at first used the services of various early private operators of Clyde steamers, then began operating steamers on its own account on 1 January 1889 to compete better with the North British Railway and the Glasgow and South Western Railway. It extended its line to bypass the G&SW's Prince's Pier at Greenock and continue on to the fishing village of Gourock, where they had purchased the harbour.

After years of fierce competition between all the fleets, the Caledonian and G&SW were merged in 1923 into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and their fleets were amalgamated into the Caledonian Steam Packet Company. Their funnels were painted yellow with a black top. At the same time, the North British Railway fleet became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (which built the Template:Ship in 1947). With nationalisation in 1948, the LMS and LNER fleets were amalgamated under British Railways with the name Clyde Shipping Services. In 1957, a reorganisation restored the CSP name, and in 1965 a red lion was added to each side of the black-topped yellow funnels. The headquarters remained at Gourock pierhead.

At the end of December 1968, management of the CSP passed to the Scottish Transport Group, which gained control of MacBrayne's the following June. The MacBrayne service from Gourock to Ardrishaig ended on 30 September 1969, leaving the Clyde entirely to the CSP.

Caledonian MacBrayne

MV Jupiter leaving Dunoon

MV Caledonian Isles at Gourock

On 1 January 1973, the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. acquired most of the ships and routes of MacBrayne's and commenced joint Clyde and West Highland operations under the new name of Caledonian MacBrayne, with a combined headquarters at Gourock. Funnels were now painted red with a black top, and a yellow circle at the side of the funnel featuring the red Caledonian lion. In 1974, a new car ferry service from Gourock to Dunoon was introduced with the ferries Template:MV and Template:MV.

In 1990, the ferry business was spun off as a separate company, keeping the Caledonian MacBrayne brand, and shares were issued in the company. All shares were owned by the state, first in the person of the Secretary of State for Scotland, and (after devolution) by the Scottish Government.

In 1996, CalMac opened its first route outside Scotland, winning a ten-year contract to provide a lifeline service to Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland. This service continued until 2008, when CalMac lost the tender.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A joint venture between Caledonian MacBrayne and the Royal Bank of Scotland named NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries won the tender for the subsidised Northern Isles services, previously run by P&O Scottish Ferries, commencing in 2002. The ambitious programme ran into financial difficulties, and the service was again put out to tender. Caledonian MacBrayne won this tender, and formed a separate company called NorthLink Ferries Limited which began operating the Northern Isles ferry service on 6 July 2006.<ref name=spice>Template:Cite web</ref>

Restructuring

Several groups have proposed privatising the service, and there has been a long commercial and political struggle with a privately owned company, Western Ferries, which has run a rival unsubsidised service from Gourock to Hunters Quay (near Dunoon) since 1973. To meet EU requirements for competitive tendering, the Scottish Executive put the collective Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services routes out to competitive tender in 2005. As part of this process the Dunoon route was put out as a separate tender.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some island and union groups opposed the tendering process, fearing it would lead to cuts in services and could be a prelude to full privatisation.

To enable competitive bidding on an equal basis, Caledonian MacBrayne was split into two separate companies on 1 October 2006. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) retained ownership of CalMac vessels and infrastructure, including harbours, while CalMac Ferries Ltd submitted tenders to be the ferry operator. The company of David MacBrayne Ltd, which had been legally dormant for many years, was re-activated as a company wholly owned by the Scottish Government on 4 July 2006. During September 2006, David MacBrayne Group Ltd acquired the entire share capital of CalMac Ferries Ltd. Thus, from leaving the hands of David MacBrayne 78 years earlier in 1928, the west coast ferry service returned to the fold in 2006, vastly enlarged. The David MacBrayne Group Ltd also acquired the full share capital of NorthLink Ferries, and took over operations of the NorthLink routes on 6 July 2006. A further subsidiary company - Rathlin Ferries Ltd - was established by David MacBrayne Group Ltd to operate the Rathlin to Ballycastle service in Northern Ireland.

Three operators submitted bids for the main block of routes,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but CalMac retained all its existing routes. On 1 October 2007 CalMac Ferries Ltd began operating these services on a six-year contract. The Gourock to Dunoon service was the subject of a separate tender, but no formal bids were made. In an interim arrangement, CalMac Ferries Ltd continued to provide a subsidised service on this route,<ref name=spice/><ref name=beeb>Template:Cite news</ref> using the name Cowal Ferries. The Scottish Government subsequently decided not to subsidise a vehicle service on the Gourock–Dunoon route due to the existence of the rival Western Ferries vehicle service, and the route was put out to tender again, this time with subsidy available only for a passenger services to maintain a direct link between Gourock railway station and Dunoon town centre. In May 2011, Argyll Ferries Ltd, a newly formed subsidiary of David MacBrayne, was named as the preferred bidder for a passenger-only Dunoon-Gourock service. The timetable was extended into the early hours at weekends, with additional sailings integrated with rail services. Two passenger-only ferries, Template:MV and Template:MV (formerly MV Banrion Chonomara), were arranged for the run.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When the service began on 30 June 2011, preparation of the Argyll Flyer was incomplete, and as an interim measure the cruise boat Template:MV was leased from Clyde Cruises.<ref name='Tele 2011-07-01'>Template:Cite news</ref> Argyll Ferries was incorporated into Caledonian MacBrayne on 21 January 2019.<ref name="Argyll Ferries 2019">Template:Cite news</ref>

On 14 July 2009, it was announced that CalMac would begin Sunday sailings to Stornoway on Lewis from Sunday 19 July. These had historically faced strong opposition from Sabbatarian elements in the Lewis community, particularly the Lord's Day Observance Society and the Free Church of Scotland. However, CalMac stated that EU equality legislation made it unlawful to refuse a service to the whole community because of the religious beliefs of a part of it.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

NorthLink Ferries lost the contract for provision of the Northern Isles ferry services to Serco on 29 May 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Covid-19: Emergency lifeline timetable

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CalMac operated a much reduced timetable. From 22 March 2020, they provided a turn up and go service to ensure essential goods and services were delivered to the islands. There were no reservations and no onboard retail facilities. Timetables were modified to meet local needs, with occasional additional crossings and extended layovers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Portavadie, Campbeltown and Armadale services were cancelled. Crossing frequencies were reduced on other routes, with single vessels at Rothesay, Largs and Kennacraig.<ref name=elt>Template:Cite web</ref> On the smaller vessels, vehicle occupants were required to remain in their vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Until Template:MV returned from dry dock in Liverpool, Template:MV remained on the Uig triangle, with Lord of the Isles and Template:MV providing services to Lochboisdale, Coll/Tiree and Colonsay from Oban. Template:MV operated to Arran (22 April – 2 May) and Islay (27 May – 2 June) while Template:MV and Template:MV were out of service.<ref name=map/>

Unused vessels were laid up: Template:MV in Campbeltown; Template:MV at Craignure; Template:MV, Template:MV and Template:MV at Sandbank; Template:MV in Mallaig (covered Sound of Barra service while Template:MV in Troon); Template:MV and Template:MV in Rothesay and Template:MV in Troon.<ref name=map>Template:Cite web</ref>

Post–Covid

In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the company began to struggle to maintain services due to an increasingly ageing fleet.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The situation was exacerbated by long delays to the delivery of two new ferries for the Arran service (Template:MV and Template:MV), a situation dubbed by critics as the "ferry fiasco". Glen Sannox, launched in 2017,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was not handed over until November 2024,<ref name=handover>Template:Cite web</ref> and entered service on 12 January 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of May 2025, Glen Rosa is expected to be delivered in April 2026.<ref name=gr-2025>Template:Cite web</ref> A further four new ferries are under construction at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey, and are expected to be delivered during 2025 and 2026.<ref name=delay-cmal>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=heb-news/>

In May 2024 Transport Scotland granted a contract extension to CalMac to continue to operate the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services until 30 September 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2025 Transport Scotland confirmed that CalMac would be directly awarded a contract for a further 10 years, commencing 1 October 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Service

Map of ferry services in Scotland, CalMac services shown in red

Loch Shira departing Largs

MV Hebridean Isles at Scrabster

MV Isle of Mull leaving Oban harbour with Kerrera in the background

Loch Seaforth departing Stornoway

The company enjoys a de facto monopoly on the shipment of freight and vehicles to the islands, and competes for passenger traffic with a number of aircraft services of varying quality and reliability. Nonetheless, few if any of the routes currently operated by CalMac are profitable, and the company receives significant government subsidies due to its vital role in supplying the islands: these routes are classified as "lifeline" services.

Various versions of a local poem (based loosely on Psalm 24) refer to MacBrayne's long dominance of Hebridean sailings: Template:Blockquote

Routes

Mainland or inner port	Island or outer port	Crossing	Voyage time	Regular vessel(s)
Portavadie, Cowal	Tarbert, Kintyre Peninsula	Loch Fyne	25 minutes	Template:MV (summer) Template:MV (winter)
Gourock, Inverclyde	Dunoon, Cowal	Firth of Clyde	25 minutes	Template:MV Template:MV
Gourock, Inverclyde	Kilcreggan	Firth of Clyde	13 minutes	Template:MV
Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde	Rothesay, Bute	Firth of Clyde	35 minutes	Template:MV Template:MV
Colintraive, Cowal	Rhubodach, Bute	Kyles of Bute	5 minutes	Template:MV
Largs, North Ayrshire	Cumbrae Slip, Cumbrae	Firth of Clyde	10 minutes	Template:MV Template:MV (summer)
Ardrossan, North Ayrshire	Brodick, Arran	Firth of Clyde	55 minutes	Template:MV
Troon, South Ayrshire	Brodick, Arran	Firth of Clyde	1 hour 15 – 20 minutes	Template:MV <ref name=bbc-feb>Template:Cite news</ref> MV Glen Sannox
Claonaig, Eastern Kintyre (summer only service)	Lochranza, Arran	Kilbrannan Sound	30 minutes	Template:MV
Tarbert, Kintyre Peninsula (winter only service)	Lochranza, Arran	Loch Fyne / Kilbrannan Sound	1 hour 25 minutes
Tayinloan, Western Kintyre	Ardminish, Gigha	Sound of Gigha	20 minutes	Template:MV
Kennacraig, Western Kintyre	Port Ellen, Islay	via West Loch Tarbert, Argyll	2 hours 10 mins - 2 hours 20 mins	Template:MV Template:MV
Kennacraig	Port Askaig, Islay	Sound of Islay	1 hour 55 mins - 2 hours 5 mins
Port Askaig	Scalasaig, Colonsay	Sound of Islay	1 hour
Oban	Scalasaig, Colonsay	Sound of Kerrera / Firth of Lorne	2 hours 15 mins - 2 hours 40 mins	Template:MV Template:MV (winter only)
Oban	Craignure, Mull	Firth of Lorne	50 minutes - 1 hour	Template:MV Template:MV Template:MV (relief)
Oban	Achnacroish, Lismore	Lynn of Lorn	55 minutes	Template:MV
Oban	Arinagour, Coll	Sound of Mull / Sea of the Hebrides	2 hours 40 minutes	Template:MV
Arinagour, Coll	Scarinish, Tiree	Sea of the Hebrides	55 minutes
Oban	Scarinish, Tiree	Sound of Mull / Sea of the Hebrides	3 hours 20 minutes
Scarinish, Tiree (summer only service)	Castlebay, Barra	Gunna Sound / Sea of the Hebrides	2 hours 45 minutes
Oban	Castlebay, Barra	Sound of Mull / Sea of the Hebrides	4 hours 45 minutes	Template:MV
Oban (winter only service)	Lochboisdale, South Uist	Sound of Mull / Sea of the Hebrides	5 hours 30 minutes	Template:MV
Gallanach (near Oban)	Balliemore, Kerrera	Sound of Kerrera	5 minutes	Template:MV
Lochaline, Morvern Peninsula	Fishnish, Mull	Sound of Mull	18 minutes	Template:MV
Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan Peninsula	Tobermory, Mull	Sound of Mull	35 minutes	Template:MV
Fionnphort, Ross of Mull	Iona	Sound of Iona	10 minutes	Template:MV
Mallaig	Armadale, Sleat Peninsula, Skye	Sound of Sleat	30 - 45 minutes Varies depending on vessel	Template:MV (summer) Template:MV (summer) Template:MV (winter)
Mallaig	Small Isles (Eigg, Muck, Rùm & Canna)	Small Isles	Varies	Template:MV
Mallaig	Lochboisdale, South Uist	Sea of the Hebrides	3 hours 30 minutes	Template:MV
Sconser, Skye	Raasay	Narrows of Raasay	25 minutes	Template:MV
Ardmhor (Barra)	Eriskay (connected to South Uist by causeway)	Sound of Barra	40 minutes	Template:MV
Uig, Skye	Lochmaddy, North Uist	Little Minch	1 hour 45 minutes	Template:MV
Uig, Skye	Tarbert, Harris	Little Minch	1 hour 40 minutes direct 4 hours via Lochmaddy
Leverburgh, Harris	Berneray (connected to North Uist by causeway)	Sound of Harris	1 hour	Template:MV
Ullapool, Wester Ross	Stornoway, Lewis	The Minch	2 hours 40 minutes	Template:MV

Passenger numbers

Passenger numbers 2022-24<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Route Name	Passengers			Cars			Coaches			Commercial Vehicles
	2024	2023	2022	2024	2023	2022	2024	2023	2022	2024	2023	2022
Ardmhor (Barra) - Eriskay	58,325	64,761	61,469	25,684	26,944	24,507	97	108	127	904	1,074	905
Ardrossan - Brodick	657,534	724,706	692,518	171,544	183,597	183,092	427	427	448	8,543	8,608	8,711
Ardrossan - CampbeltownTemplate:Efn	0	0	8,869	0	0	2,691	0	0	2	0	0	14
Berneray - Leverburgh	68,439	62,852	63,974	30,233	27,408	28,257	108	188	204	1,253	1,312	1,432
Claonaig - LochranzaTemplate:Efn	84,382	79,182	76,351	33,737	31,032	29,225	114	132	159	1,409	949	857
Colintraive - Rhubodach	181,769	168,264	175,772	84,066	76,712	80,557	572	441	365	6,814	6,479	7,162
Fionnphort - Iona	220,969	206,038	204,623	7,855	8,021	8,471	1	10	2	515	531	601
Fishnish - Lochaline	130,995	113,541	125,759	60,101	53,864	56,544	424	352	445	3,741	2,829	3,107
Gallanach - Kerrera	36,048	67,290	64,009	1,568	2,592	2,230	0	0	0	4	11	0
Gourock - DunoonTemplate:Efn	215,694	203,270	196,086	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gourock - KilcregganTemplate:Efn	49,477	48,609	47,659	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kennacraig - Islay	198,619	208,556	202,290	70,954	75,000	75,476	322	357	355	12,970	13,741	13,930
Kennacraig - Islay/C'say/Oban	10,607	17,125	18,216	3,832	6,176	6,659	11	10	20	606	693	694
Largs - Cumbrae Slip	707,480	721,798	690,152	195,105	199,180	185,052	795	938	948	5,633	4,118	3,639
Mallaig - Armadale	228,118	237,815	212,847	59,511	62,650	57,679	1,859	1,766	1,390	53	57	45
Mallaig - Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna	24,597	23,496	22,376	2,083	3,038	3,223	1	0	0	244	165	173
Mallaig - Lochboisdale	24,950	26,527	31,247	10,804	10,824	12,668	18	29	35	248	282	260
Oban - Castlebay/Lochboisdale	48,474	50,258	46,261	18,984	20,116	18,433	17	27	19	1,100	1,350	1,099
Oban - Coll/Tiree	61,588	60,711	55,783	22,085	21,590	20,094	32	6	6	2,133	1,958	1,813
Oban - Coll/Tiree/CastlebayTemplate:Efn	-	-	5,072	-	-	2,017	-	-	1	-	-	229
Oban - Colonsay	12,396	12,888	12,664	5,532	5,218	5,422	6	2	2	465	288	341
Oban - Craignure	552,480	553,928	550,517	152,056	150,929	156,353	1,475	1,565	1,427	6,131	5,926	6,299
Oban - Lismore	24,644	24,721	24,807	8,377	8,688	8,245	12	19	40	338	375	236
Sconser - Raasay	93,682	87,748	83,730	32,633	32,804	30,990	39	32	29	873	676	503
Tarbert - LochranzaTemplate:Efn	1,701	1,095	-	836	575	-	0	0	-	102	67	-
Tarbert - Portavadie	67,520	78,259	86,372	23,175	26,975	29,902	8	40	15	161	145	217
Tayinloan - Gigha	71,951	69,709	70,511	23,488	23,281	23,754	4	23	22	1,094	1,116	1,149
Tobermory - Kilchoan	44,510	45,437	44,361	11,498	11,494	11,360	11	15	11	21	9	22
Uig - Tarbert/Lochmaddy	181,745	163,244	155,440	75,269	66,471	65,369	309	355	338	5,280	5,129	5,239
Ullapool - Stornoway	290,665	300,525	285,384	101,953	111,542	104,449	513	536	540	13,195	13,615	13,314
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay	688,054	657,123	613,117	207,392	203,872	190,541	466	365	416	8,189	7,458	8,332

Fleet

Template:Main 32 of the vessels operated by CalMac are owned by the asset holding company CMAL. Two ferries, Template:MV and Template:MV, are directly owned by CalMac, and a further two, Template:MV and Template:MV, are on charter from other owners.

Ten of the vessels can be categorised as "major units" – ships of Template:Cvt or more in length. The largest is Template:MV at Template:Cvt in length. Template:MV is almost Template:Cvt long and able to carry 550 passengers with 88 cars.<ref name="fleet"/> She was built in Poland at a cost of £24.5 million and operates the Islay service.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The others are Template:MV, Template:MV, Template:MV, Template:MV,Template:Efn Template:MV, Template:MV and Template:MV.<ref name="fleet">Template:Cite web</ref> The tenth "major unit", Template:Ship, was handed over to CalMac on 21 November 2024, and entered full passenger service on the Troon - Brodick route on 13 January 2025.<ref name=handover/>

There are 13 "Loch Class" vessels in different shapes and sizes. These double-ended ferries are mostly symmetrical when viewed from the side, with no operational bow or stern (although in official documents the designation of such is given). They generally serve shorter, more sheltered routes, although Template:MV is able to handle Force 7 gales and carry 36 cars and 149 passengers, with a crew of five.Template:Citation needed Template:MV, sometimes referred to as a "super loch", entered service in 2007 on the Largs–Cumbrae route. Template:MV & Template:MV are spare and relief vessels and are not assigned to any specific route.

Similar in outward appearance to the Loch Class vessels are the three diesel-electric ferries built by Ferguson Marine Engineering: Template:MV (2013; for Raasay), Template:MV (2013; for Tarbert) and Template:MV (2015; for Lochranza).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A number of vessels have specific features and are designed for specific crossings. Template:MV (2000) was designed for the Small Isles service, being fitted with a large stern vehicle ramp that allows her to berth a considerable distance from a slipway, protecting her exposed Azimuth thrusters in shallow waters.<ref name="ships">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:MV (2005) and Template:MV (2007), both built in Gdańsk, work solely on the busy Wemyss Bay–Rothesay route. In 2022, a Norwegian ferry was purchased for the Mull service; after modification it entered service as Template:MV. Template:MV is a catamaran ferry owned by Pentland Ferries, currently on charter to CalMac for the Arran service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The smallest vessel in the fleet is Template:MV, built in Shetland for the Kerrera route.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

There are three passenger-only vessels in the fleet: Template:MV, Template:MV and Template:MV. All operate on the Clyde. Template:MV is leased from Clyde Marine Services for the Gourock to Kilcreggan service,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> whilst Template:MV and Template:MV operate the Gourock-Dunoon service.

Future fleet

The second of two dual fuel ferries for Arran constructed by Ferguson Marine Engineering, Template:MV, is expected by April 2026.<ref name=gr-2025/>

A £91 million contract to build two ferries for the Islay service was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in Turkey in March 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first steel for two ferries was cut at a ceremony in Turkey in October 2022,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the second vessel's being done in January 2023, in the same week as the first vessel's keel was laid. In May 2023, the same week as the second vessel's keel was laid, it was announced that these ferries would be named Template:MV and Template:MV.<ref name="Names announced for new Islay and Jura ferries BBCNews">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2022 it was announced that two further vessels would be built to a very similar specification as the ferries under construction for Islay. CMAL signed a contract in January 2023 for Cemre Shipyard to also build the two ferries, which would allow a dedicated, peak season services to Tarbert and Lochmaddy from Uig and provide additional resilience in the fleet.<ref name="ts">Template:Cite news</ref> <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The two vessels are to be named Template:MV and Template:MV.

It was expected that Isle of Islay would be delivered by the first quarter of 2025, with Loch Indaal following in the second quarter of 2025. Lochmor was expected to be delivered in the third quarter of the year, with Claymore following by the end of the year.<ref name=delay-cmal/> However, in February 2025 the shipyard announced delays, with Isle of Islay not expected to be delivered until at least July 2025, and subsequent delays to the other three vessels. The shipyard blamed the impact of the war in Ukraine on steel supplies, Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, a shortage of commissioning engineers, and snow and cold weather in Turkey for these delays.<ref name=heb-news>Template:Cite web</ref> The date for delivery of Isle of Islay was later pushed back to September 2025, with the other vessels being expected to follow at six-month intervals.<ref name=july2025>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2025 a contract was awarded to Remontowa Shipbuilding of Gdańsk in Poland for construction of seven vessels to replace of the oldest of the Loch class vessels. These are electric ferries, though may require to be run on diesel until shore power can be fully set up, with the first vessel expected in 2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first steel was cut for the first of these vessels in September 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Transport Scotland
• Caledonian Maritime Assets
• David MacBrayne
• Argyll Ferries

References

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book
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Further reading

• Template:Cite news

External links

• CalMac (Official) Corporate Homepage
• Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited - website