Contact the news and picture editor. |
CalMac has released the first phase of its summer timetables for routes in Inverclyde.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Several CalMac sailings to and from Gourock will be cancelled this weekend to allow for essential works in Dunoon.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Dunoon Linkspan |
In response to the ferry service inquiry by the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, communities represented 'unanimously' do not support a direct award of the next contract.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Payments are made for food costs, overnight accommodation, mileage and delay or cancellations relating to technical faults.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Compensation payments |
CalMac have announced timetable changes for the Ardrossan to Arran service at the start of 2024.
(Permalink) Ardrossan Arran Brodick Caledonian MacBrayne |
The two ships for CalMac's Little Minch routes are being built at a yard in Turkey.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Little Minch |
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne is making plans for next winter on the assumption that the two new ferries for the Ardrossan-Arran route STILL wont be in service.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Glen Sannox |
Scottish Ferries union RMT, has called on the government in Scotland to award Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract directly to publicly owned operator Calmac.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services RMT Scottish Government |
The ferry MV Alfred will not return to the Caithness-Orkney route until at least next summer after its charter on the west coast was extended.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Alfred |
Further disruption to CalMacs plans to cover the Stornoway-Ullapool freight route may have come as an unplanned bonus for local hauliers, though that depends on the 38 year-old Hebridean Isles not breaking down!
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Hebridean Isles Stornoway Ullapool Oban North Pier: Calmac's 'Hebridean Isles' and 'Glen Sannox', at the pier alongside Oban station in October 1987.
|
CalMac suspend all ferry sailings between Ardrossan and Brodick as the weather deteriorates
(Permalink) Ardrossan Brodick Caledonian MacBrayne Storm Babet |
CalMac issued a red alert for services from Tarbert to Portavadie.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Portavadie |
MV Hebridean Isles is due to carry passengers again this weekend for the first time in eight months.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Hebridean Isles Oban North Pier: Calmac's 'Hebridean Isles' and 'Glen Sannox', at the pier alongside Oban station in October 1987.
|
The incident took place this morning near Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Tobermory |
Five of Scotland's lifeline ferry fleet have been unable to sail at one point on Tuesday due to an ongoing run of technical problems, it has emerged.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
An exciting film show and talk by an expert on the iconic Waverley paddle steamer is coming to Irvine next month.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Iain Quinn PS Waverley Scottish Maritime Museum [Irvine] |
Ferries services from Gourock have been suspended due to an issue with Dunoon's linkspan.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Dunoon Gourock Linkspan |
A CalMac vessel has arrived in Greenock as part of its scheduled annual maintenance.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne James Watt Dock MV Isle of Arran |
The scheme is designed to help young peoplegain essential qualifications and the experience necessary for a successful career withCalMac and within the industry.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Parts of Scotland were battered by heavy rain on Sunday causing travel disruption.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne ScotRail Weather |
Lifeline ferries being built in Turkey as part of a £115m contract are on track to be completed in a third of the time it is due to take a Scots yard to deliver.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian Macbrayne Cemre Marin Endustri |
Local residents are calling for government help after the island experienced a disappointing summer in terms of visitor numbers.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Isle of Mull |
The company said its new winter timetable was one of the most complex it has ever had to produce.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Ferry services from Gourock are experiencing disruption this morning due to thick fog in the area.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Fog Western Ferries |
Oban Harbour Board is consulting port users and the public on Argyll and Bute Council taking control of port.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Craignure Pier Fionnphort Slip Gigha Oban Harbour Board Oban North Pier Oban Northern Lighthouse Board Pier Oban Railway Pier |
Arran's new ferry - known only as Hull 802 - will now be named MV Glen Rosa, after a public vote.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Ferguson Marine Hull 802 MV Glen Rosa |
Ferry operator CalMac has defended its record after new figures revealed 'spiralling' cancellations impacting lifeline ferry services to island communities.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Scotland's ferry procurement body could be scrapped and merged with Transport Scotland to create a new Ferries Scotland agency dedicated to improving ferry services across the country, the government has said.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Transport Scotland |
CALMAC chief executive Robbie Drummond has warned over a third of the west of Scotland lifeline ferry fleet is operating beyond its life expectancy.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne |
Scotsman readers are invited to submit [to the Scotsman editor] a suggested name for the CalMac ferry being built at the Ferguson Marine shipyard.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Ferguson Marine Hull 802 |
A key Scottish Labour figure has called on the state-owned ferry operator CalMac to get a permanent public contract to run the ageing ferry fleet.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
A competition has been launched to name the CalMac ferry at the centre of the Ferguson's ferry fiasco.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Claymore Ferguson Marine Glen Cloy Glen Rosa Hull 802 |
Ministers have come under fire as an £800m scheme to create a Clyde shipbuilding revolution and solve Scotland's ferry crisis with a fleet of 50 catamarans has been sunk.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde Catamaran Group Sea Transport Solutions Shipbuilding |
A CalMac ferry has been forced to dock in Ayr as part an urgent reshuffle. The unusual sight came as CalMac was forced to change the usual berthing arrangements for its Arran ferries because of bad weather.
(Permalink) Ayr Caledonian MacBrayne MV Hebridean Isles Weather Ayr Harbour: MV Hebridean Isles was a surprise visitor in the river yesterday.
[The vessel was in Ayr as, due to poor weather, the MV Caledonian Isles was using the Irish berth at Ardrossan. -RS] |
CalMac clearly believes the line about all publicity being good publicity. Why else would the ferry operator in the eye of a political storm offer itself up for a fly-on-the-wall documentary?
(Permalink) BBC Caledonian MacBrayne |
Gourock based ferry firm CalMac is the subject of a new fly on the wall TV documentary which begins this weekend.
(Permalink) BBC Caledonian MacBrayne |
The mezzanine deck will allow 20 more cars per sailing which islanders believe will boost the economy by millions.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
The staff who run Scotland's embattled CalMac ferries share their frustrations in a new eight-week BBC documentary.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Island Crossings |
A ferry boss has called for routes in Scotland to be handed to the private sector to improve services and ease the burden on the taxpayer.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
The Oban ferry terminal became a temporary shelter for stranded travellers after a festival in the Inner Hebrides was cancelled last minute.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Oban Ferry Terminal Oban Pier Tiree Music Festival Weather |
Sailings on the Kilcreggan route resumed earlier this morning after being suspended yesterday due to a technical error on MV Chieftain.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Gourock Kilcreggan MV Chieftain |
A shuttle bus has had to be drafted in to replace a ferry after issues with a bridge ramp led to services between Inverclyde and Argyll and Bute being cancelled till Friday.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Dunoon Gourock |
CalMac's MV Lord of the Isles was withdrawn from its South Uist route almost a month ago.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Lochboisdale MV Lord of the Isles South Uist |
CALMAC have been forced to bring in relief vessels to support stranded island travellers - after the breakdown of another of the ferry operator's ageing ferry fleet has caused fresh chaos to the Outer Hebrides.
(Permalink) Barra Caledonian MacBrayne Eriskay MV Loch Alainn |
Islanders in South Uist and neighbouring islands tell of the affect of almost month-long loss of a ferry service.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Lochboisdale MV Lord of the Isles South Uist |
Ferry fares on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles ferry networks have been frozen for a further six months.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Fares |
Ministers should consider scrapping Scottish Government controlled ferry and port owner CMAL to create a new ferries agency while giving the beleaguered ferry operator CalMac a longer contract to continue lifeline services, a Holyrood committee inquiry has said.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne |
Glasgow residents took to the streets on Saturday in solidarity with a Scottish island which has had ferry services axed for a month.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne South Uist |
The ferry operator said they wanted 'all vessels to be available' but were unable to guarantee all would be ready to set sail.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Changes to ferry timetables on CalMacs Gourock-Dunoon services have been implemented today to maintain commuter connections with ScotRail trains.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Dunoon Gourock Gourock Pier Integrated transport ScotRail Timetabling |
Carlton Reid toured around Argyll and the Isles with his folding bicycle in tow, stopping to soak in the region's history and to dine on 'hearty' Scottish fare.
(Permalink) Argyll Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian Sleeper Highland Explorer ScotRail West Highland Lines |
Islanders are to take a protest over Scotland's failing lifeline ferry services to the mainland - as frustration rises over a failure to act over disruption and withdrawal of services caused by breakdowns to CalMac's ageing fleet.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Scottish Government-owned CalMac Ferries Ltd has amassed nearly £12m in fines for poor performance since it took charge of lifeline services with penalties soaring in recent years, it can be revealed.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
It may seem like a sea storm in a teacup, but whether the chief executive of CalMac can get his car on one of his own ferries because it was full is really no small matter.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
The RMT general secretary called on Scottish ministers to ensure lifeline ferry services in the west of Scotland are kept in the public sector.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne RMT |
MSP Michael Marra will lodge a motion at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday in a bid to support businesses affected by CalMac ferry disruption.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Last weeks Gazette was about to be finalised around noon last Wednesday. There was a headline on page three which read: 'Good news at last on ferries'. The good news was that, however briefly, scheduled services for the Western Isles appeared to have been restored.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
The First Minister said he would not rule out payments to those affected by cancellations and pulled services.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Communities Compensation |
Furious locals gathered at Lochboisdale Pier on Sunday to condemn the move, saying they are being forgotten, abandoned and ignored.
They are now calling for compensation to help keep local businesses afloat while there is a reduction in tourism traffic. CalMac managing director Robbie Drummond is expected to visit South Uist on Monday to discuss the ongoing issues. (Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Loch Baghasdail Lochboisdale Pier South Uist Uibhist a Deas |
Islanders are calling for the First Minister to intervene quickly on the nation's ferry crisis - after the transport minister Kevin Stewart quit as transport minister after less than ten weeks in the post.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
CALMAC banned motorhomes from travelling to one of Scotland's islands - as calls have been made for heads to roll over a new wave of travel chaos to hit Scotland's islands.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Hundreds of people have turned out for a protest on South Uist following CalMac's decision to cancel most ferry sailings to Mallaig for the remainder of June.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Lochboisdale Lochboisdale Ferry Business Impact Group Mallaig Lochboisdale Pier: The 'Lord of the Isles' tying up at Lochboisdale Pier in August 1993. It was somewhat wet. The next morning she continued to Castlebay, Barra. Lochboisdale Pier: The steam puffer 'Glencloy' loading bags of milled seaweed at Lochboisdale on South Uist in July 1960. What appears to be a Ruston Bucyrus crane is alongside the vessel with a very new looking Austin ... |
The ferry company says it is a consequence of continuing problems with the MV Hebridean Isles.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Lochboisdale MV Hebridean Isles |
Ferry services were plunged into a Bank Holiday weekend 'free-for-all' after ferry operator CalMac indicated they had no hope of honouring bookings on a beleaguered island service.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Ferry services have been plunged into 'chaos' with day trippers advised not to travel to Mull while ferry operator CalMac is bombarded with complaints over the newly launched ticketing system being riddled with issues.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Island businesses made the claim in a meeting with Transport Minister Kevin Stewart.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Lochboisdale Mallaig Nas miosa South Uist Uibhist a Deas |
|
It comes after the ferry operator cancelled 11,301 journeys in 2022, with a further 5,781 sailings arriving late.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Travellers trying to access ferry operator's website were greeted with an error message.
(Permalink) Booking system Caledonian MacBrayne Ticketing |
The operator said moving all the bookings from the old system to the new one was taking longer than expected.
(Permalink) Ar Turas Booking system Caledonian MacBrayne |
The ferry operator has added crossings to timetables for the next two weeks, but ruled out some options to go further.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Mull |
CALMAC have confirmed the catamaran MV Alfred will begin service on the Ardrossan to Arran route - from tomorrow.
(Permalink) Ardrossan Arran Caledonian MacBrayne MV Alfred |
CalMac booking system to be down this weekend in preparation for new booking system launch.
(Permalink) Booking system Caledonian MacBrayne |
CalMac's booking system will be offline for three days later this week for scheduled maintenance.
(Permalink) Booking system Caledonian MacBrayne |
The plea comes in the wake of a series of problems which have hit the state-owned operators ageing fleet.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Iona Isle of Mull Scottish Government |
MV Alfred could be set to join the ferry company's under-pressure west coast network.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Alfred |
Western Isles councillors say the running of services has failed to reflect islanders' needs.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Western Isles |
CALMAC have been unable to give assurances of the continued use of a £1m-a-month 'emergency' ferry to try and ease the effect of the nation's ferry fiasco - despite previously stating that they had 'exclusive' use of it.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Alfred MV Pentalina |
The Scottish Government-owned ferry operator CalMac has been landed with a £1.6m bill for crew costs for two ferries that have yet to set sail, it can be revealed.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Arguments over placing catamarans on Scottish ferry routes will finally be put to the test.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Catamaran Ferguson Marine Gourock Inchgreen Graving Dock Kilcreggan MV Alfred Mull and Iona Ferry Committee Pentland Ferries |
ScotRail drivers and CalMac captains could be forced to become enforcers of the UK Governments asylum ban plans, The National can reveal. [Article may require subscription. -RS]
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne ScotRail |
An emergency ferry has finally been given clearance to begin a £1m-a-month taxpayer-funded charter to help ease lifeline service 'chaos' - but CalMac do not yet know which routes if any it can operate on.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Alfred |
Dh'fhosgail bhòt gus dà aiseag ùr do dh'le ainmeachadh.
Tha na bàtaichean gan togail an-dàrsta aig Gàrradh Cemre san Tuirc. Tha dùil gun tèid a' chiad aiseag a thoirt seachad do CMAL aig deireadh 2024 agus an tè eile trth ann an 2025. (Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Islay ÃŒle |
Amid the furore surrounding the CalMac vessels being built by Ferguson at Port Glasgow, it is easy to forget that Scotland was once one of the greatest shipbuilding nations in the world.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Denny Tank Museum Ferguson Marine John Yellowlees Scottish Maritime Museum Shipbuilding |
CalMac's new booking and ticketing platform due to launch across the ferry operator's network on April 25 is to be delayed by three weeks.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Ticketing |
Another local CalMac vessel suffered a breakdown affecting passengers.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Gourock Kilcreggan |
Concerns have been raised that a key Scots island is to become inaccessible after ferry operator CalMac imposed an up to 70% increase in fares.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Fares Great Cumbrae Millport |
The supply of a faulty part has put back the return of one of CalMac's major ferries - MV Caledonian Isles after four months on the sidelines.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Caledonian Isles |
Only one ferry is currently operating on the route to and from Jura and Islay
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Islay Jura Scotch Whisky Association |
CalMac said that engineers were onboard the vessel on Wednesday morning working on resolving the issue.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Loch Seaforth Stornoway Ullapool |
It is hoped the extra support will get vessels moving on the busy ferry crossing again.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Corran Ferry Highland Council |
Two ports in Inverclyde have been received an award from a national environmental charity.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Gourock Wemyss Bay |
CALMAC chief executive Robbie Drummond has defended the 'no mainland ferries' crisis saying that decisions on cuts were made as a 'last resort'.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Islanders tell of threats to tourism and a disrupted wedding as the ageing fleet is hit by more problems.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
CalMac has warned its Mallaig, Oban to Lochboisdale route will be unavailable from 5 April.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Lochboisdale Mallaig Oban |
A coalition of island hauliers are taking legal advice in a row over a ferry user priority list brought in by Scottish Government-owed operator CalMac in the midst of continuing disruption to lifeline services.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
The massively delayed CalMac ferry Glen Sannox will need nearly two months of further tests before entering passenger service in addition to the 'extensive sea trials prior its completion by Ferguson Marine which John Swinney related to MSPs last week.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Ferguson Marine MV Glen Sannox Newark Shipyard: Work continues on 'Glen Sannox' at Ferguson Marine in February 2023, as seen from the eastbound platform of Cardross station! The large statues of shipbuilders are 33 feet high. Newark Shipyard: 'Glen Sannox', Calmac's new ferry for the Ardrossan to Brodick route was launched from Ferguson's shipyard at Port Glasgow on a dreich 21st November 2017. |
This month is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the MV Loch Seaforth, the forerunner to its namesake plying the Stornoway to Ullapool route today, and last and only CalMac ferry to be lost.
On the stormy night of 22 March 1973, on its way from South Uist to Oban, the Loch Seaforth struck rocks in Gunna Sound between the Isles of Tiree and Coll, with over 40 passengers and crew on board. (Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Loch Seaforth Mallaig Pier: TSMV Loch Seaforth loading alongside the rail facilities on the quay at Mallaig in July 1963.
|
Gourock ferry firm CalMac has opened its apprenticeship programme for this year.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
CalMac's chief executive has described a 10-day delay to the reopening of Uig Ferry Terminal as 'immensely frustrating'.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Uig Pier |
Chief executive Robbie Drummond apologises to island residents for recent disruption to services.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
CalMac is the operating contractor for the Scottish Government and it has 34 vessels operating the Clyde and Hebridean routes. More than half of its boats, 18, were built in the last century. We have sorted the vessels into age order the oldest first, and then the boats that are currently in production.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
He told SNP members in Inverness 'on their boards should be people who make up those communities, who live in those communities'.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
CalMac, which runs a lifeline route between Ullapool and Stornoway, says the new booking and ticketing platform will go live on April 25.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
CalMac has updated customers regarding the ongoing overhauls of ageing vessels and the likely disruption throughout March.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Island communities know the reality of Scotland's troubled ferry network, but could a solution be found in advice from overseas?
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
A fourth of ferry operator CalMac's lifeline vessels has become sidelined to passengers due to problems with a gearbox.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Loch Portain |
CalMac has been fined almost half-a-million in fines following one of its worst performing years on a life-line ferry route.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Fines |
CALMAC ferry MV Isle of Lewis has come to Greenock for her annual overhaul.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Garvel Dock MV Isle of Lewis Ullapool Pier: Calmac 'MV Isle of Lewis' rounds the headland as it approaches Ullapool Pier along Loch Broom after the 2 hour 30 minute crossing from Stornoway on the evening of 20th June 2013. |
A longed-for boat for the Oban to Craignure ferry route might be being assessed by the Scottish Government for a place on the CalMac fleet.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Craignure Oban |
A third CalMac vessel has been sidelined to passengers as concerns ramp up over 'chaos' hitting the nation's ageing fleet and lifeline services for islanders.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne MV Loch Dunvegan Kyle of Lochalsh Slip: 'MV Loch Dunvegan' at Kyle of Lochalsh in 1992, five years before the bridge was opened. The ferry now serves the Isle of Bute on the short Colintraive to Rhubodach crossing [[56219]].
Colintraive: Calmac MV Loch Dunvegan is mid way across the narrow eastern Kyle of Bute on a misty morning in April 2018. This image, taken from the viewpoint on the A8003 Tighnabruaich road, shows the point ... |
CalMac has opened up bookings for ferry services travelling out of Mallaig for the summer tourist season.
(Permalink) Armadale Caledonian MacBrayne Mallaig |
Two vessels being built in Port Glasgow are years late and hundreds of millions over budget.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Procurement |
Ferry procurement quango CMAL is set to host a second online webinar on plans to replace seven small Caledonian MacBrayne vessels which Ferguson's shipyard wants to build.
(Permalink) CMAL Caledonian MacBrayne Ferguson Marine |
CalMac has announced that it processed 15,102 bookings in the first 24 hours of opening.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
CalMac payments for meals and accommodation averaged more than £50,000 a month last summer.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Compensation |
CalMac has been forced to cancel several ferry services due to high winds reaching up to 50mph.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Stornoway Ullapool |
The ferry operator's maintenance budget is soaring as it struggles to maintain its limited fleet.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Bookings on CalMac sailings for spring flings and summer holidays are finally online, one month later than normal.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne |
Freight only sailings between Troon and Arran have been introduced to provide support to the island, CalMac has confirmed.
(Permalink) Arran Caledonian MacBrayne Freight Troon |