Latest news with #DuncanMackison
The National
07-05-2025
- Business
- The National
MV Caledonian Isles return faces further delay
With both the MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred unable to berth at the troubled Ardrossan Harbour, ferry users face a further period of longer sailings to Arran and back from Troon Harbour. The service between Ardrossan and Brodick has been absent since early this year - and may not return until the week beginning Monday, June 9. MV Caledonian Isles has been out of action since January 2024 when it went in for its annual overhaul. Repeated delays followed until it was announced that the vessel would return in November last year. But this was set back by the discovery of "steel deformation" and the need to replace both stern tube bearings. This pushed MV Caledonian Isles' return back until the end of March this year, only for it to be delayed again. A return in late April was then expected before it was announced that passengers would have to wait until the end of May at the earliest. Now, CalMac has advised that there is a "potential" further delay coming only weeks out from the anticipated return. The warning comes after the propulsion shafts, which were sent to Denmark for machining, arrived back at the vessel approximately 10 days later than scheduled. This was due to the need for additional works identified during the process. Despite the possible delay, CalMac says it is prepared for a return to service from any point from June 1 onwards. It also reaffirmed its commitment to MV Caledonian Isles operating out of Ardrossan when she returns. Duncan Mackison, the company's CEO, said: 'Progress has been checked every step of the way throughout what has been a complex repair programme. "This delay in completing the shafts has not affected confidence levels that MV Caledonian Isles will be serving Arran again in just a few weeks' time. 'A timeline which saw the vessel back in service by the end of May built in contingency, but that has largely been used up by the delay in getting the shafts back on board. "We anticipated the contingency time being required during alignment and sea trials, the critical phase of works we expect to enter next week when the vessel floats up. 'If we complete alignment and sea trials and there's no issues whatsoever, the original plan for resuming service by June 1 is viable and we're also planning for that eventuality. "But given the length of time the vessel has been in dock, it is prudent to build that contingency back in to give certainty to the community on Arran. 'Further details on her return to service will be confirmed in due course.' MV Alfred, which is on charter from Pentland Ferries, will continue to operate Troon-Brodick in early June should MV Caledonian Isles be delayed.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- BBC News
Return of MV Caledonian Isles ferry delayed for a further month
Ferry operator CalMac has announced that the return of the MV Caledonian Isles - which has been out of service since last February - has been delayed by a further ship has faced a series of issues including rust and twisted had been due to return to the Arran route by the end of April, but that has now been pushed back to the end of then, the service to Brodick will continue from Troon with a two-vessel service of MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred. CalMac said it had found new issues with the tubes for MV Caledonian Isles' propeller state-owned operator's chief executive officer Duncan Mackison said: "We know MV Caledonian Isles' ongoing absence has caused significant disruption on Arran and the wider network, and that's why we've taken steps to ensure that when she returns, she provides a resilient and reliable service."We're in regular contact with Arran's ferry committee and want to reassure the local community that we expect MV Caledonian Isles back soon."Meanwhile, a further delay to the return of MV Hebrides from scheduled annual maintenance has also been said the vessel, which operates on the Uig triangle, requires an extra six days of work to the bow visor and stern is now set to return on Tuesday 22 current alternative deployment plan will continue until the vessel is back in service.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Troubled Scottish ferry scheme faces fresh delays in new blow for SNP
The Scottish Government-owned ferry operator CalMac faces a fresh crisis just weeks after the delivery of a long-delayed vessel that the SNP claimed would put the company back on track. A second ship due to arrive this month will now not be delivered until June, depriving remote islands of vital connections going into the tourist season upon which their economies depend. News of the delay to the 450-passenger Isle of Islay, under construction in Turkey, emerged in a letter to the Scottish Parliament's transport committee from the company that procures CalMac vessels. A third of CalMac's large ships already out of action or operating at reduced capacity owing to annual maintenance or mechanical faults, including problems with one ship that have left it limited to just 45 passengers instead of the usual 900. The latest delay represents a blow for the SNP, which had hoped to put years of upheaval at CalMac behind it after the fleet was expanded with the arrival of the Glen Sannox on the busy Arran route in January, six years late and more than £250m over budget. The scandal around the Glen Sannox and sister vessel the Glen Rosa led the then first minister Nicola Sturgeon to nationalise Ferguson Marine, the local shipbuilder responsible for the delays in 2019, with the SNP subsequently turning to the Cemre shipyard in Turkey for its next big order. An original delivery date of last October for the Isle of Islay had already been put back amid a shortage of steel from Ukraine and reduced staffing after Turkey's 2023 earthquake. Transport Scotland called the latest delay 'disappointing' but said the Turkish yard had been hit by supply chain and labour challenges afflicting similar sites around the world. In its letter, Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL) said that the yard south of Istanbul lacks sufficient commissioning engineers to sign off on the vessel's various systems. Painting of the ship's hull has also been delayed by freezing conditions in Turkey, with sea trials not now expected to begin until May, pushing back delivery until June at the earliest. CMAL said: 'We fully appreciate this is not the news the island communities, or indeed anyone, wants to hear.' The 3,200 residents of Islay together with whisky and seafood exports worth tens of millions of pounds a week are reliant on the ferry service, while 45,000 tourists use it to visit the island each year. Duncan Mackison, the CalMac chief executive, said the delay to Isle of Islay was 'disappointing news' and that everyone involved in the build is 'aware of how desperately she's needed in the CalMac fleet'. The delivery of three more vessels – the Loch Indaal, which is slated to serve neighbouring Jura, the Lochmor and the Claymore – will now follow at six-month intervals, rather than the four months previously anticipated, CMAL said. Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish transport secretary, revealed last month that she was considering nationalising Ardrossan Harbour in Ayrshire in order to fund its enlargement. The Glen Sannox is too big to dock at the primary port for Arran and is currently having to sail from Troon, adding 20 minutes to the crossing. South Uist in the Outer Hebrides has meanwhile seen sailings cut to three a week with a journey time that is two hours longer after its usual vessel was diverted elsewhere. The replacement can currently take just 45 passengers due to a fault in its evacuation system. Mr Mackison said problems with several vessels had presented CalMac with 'difficult choices' in terms of service provision. He said passenger volumes would be monitored but that the South Uist service was currently sufficient to meet demand. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
07-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Troubled Scottish ferry scheme faces fresh delays in new blow for SNP
The scandal around the Glen Sannox and sister vessel the Glen Rosa led the then first minister Nicola Sturgeon to nationalise Ferguson Marine, the local shipbuilder responsible for the delays in 2019, with the SNP subsequently turning to the Cemre shipyard in Turkey for its next big order. An original delivery date of last October for the Isle of Islay had already been put back amid a shortage of steel from Ukraine and reduced staffing after Turkey's 2023 earthquake. Transport Scotland called the latest delay 'disappointing' but said the Turkish yard had been hit by supply chain and labour challenges afflicting similar sites around the world. In its letter, Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL) said that the yard south of Istanbul lacks sufficient commissioning engineers to sign off on the vessel's various systems. Painting of the ship's hull has also been delayed by freezing conditions in Turkey, with sea trials not now expected to begin until May, pushing back delivery until June at the earliest. CMAL said: 'We fully appreciate this is not the news the island communities, or indeed anyone, wants to hear.' The 3,200 residents of Islay together with whisky and seafood exports worth tens of millions of pounds a week are reliant on the ferry service, while 45,000 tourists use it to visit the island each year. Duncan Mackison, the CalMac chief executive, said the delay to Isle of Islay was 'disappointing news' and that everyone involved in the build is 'aware of how desperately she's needed in the CalMac fleet'. The delivery of three more vessels – the Loch Indaal, which is slated to serve neighbouring Jura, the Lochmor and the Claymore – will now follow at six-month intervals, rather than the four months previously anticipated, CMAL said. Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish transport secretary, revealed last month that she was considering nationalising Ardrossan Harbour in Ayrshire in order to fund its enlargement. The Glen Sannox is too big to dock at the primary port for Arran and is currently having to sail from Troon, adding 20 minutes to the crossing. South Uist in the Outer Hebrides has meanwhile seen sailings cut to three a week with a journey time that is two hours longer after its usual vessel was diverted elsewhere. The replacement can currently take just 45 passengers due to a fault in its evacuation system. Mr Mackison said problems with several vessels had presented CalMac with 'difficult choices' in terms of service provision. He said passenger volumes would be monitored but that the South Uist service was currently sufficient to meet demand.
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
CalMac reshuffles fleet after 'exceptional' problems
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has rejigged services and vessel deployment plans as it grapples with an "exceptional" series of problems with its fleet. Delays in repairs and new issues identified during annual maintenance mean the west coast operator is facing a shortage of ships. Chief executive Duncan Mackison said a third of its large vessels were currently out of action or operating with reduced capacity. The charter of the privately-owned catamaran Alfred - said to cost £1m a month - has now been extended to the end of May to maintain services, while the summer-only Ardrossan-Campbelltown service remains suspended for another year. MV Caledonian Isles, which operates on the Arran route has been out of action since last February with a series of issues including rust and twisted frames. The ship was due back next month, but this has been pushed back, possibly to late April, after new issues were found with the tubes for its propeller shafts. MV Isle of Lewis, which operates to Barra, needs steelwork replaced during annual maintenance, and will not return to service until Sunday 23 March, almost a month later than expected. MV Clansman has also been slightly delayed in overhaul, while MV Isle of Mull is restricted to just 45 is due to problems with its emergency evacuation systems, which will not be fixed until mid May at the earliest. Mr Mackison said the publicly-owned firm was "dealing with an exceptional set of circumstances"."Challenges with several vessels in the fleet have converged at the same time, creating a significant capacity issue which leaves us with difficult choices to make in terms of service provision," he added. "Given the age of our fleet and the need to overhaul all vessels outside of the busy summer season, our vessels are spending a record amount of time in overhaul this winter. "This stretches our services and, when unplanned delays such as those we're experiencing with MV Isle of Lewis and MV Clansman are factored in, our resources to the limit" The lack of vessels means a Troon-only service to Arran will continue - using the new ferry Glen Sannox and catamaran Alfred - and the more frequent services from Ardrossan will not resume until Caledonian Isles returns in April.A shared service for Barra and South Uist has been Mackison said: "The extension of the shared service is far from ideal but is the only deployment plan available to us which allows us to maintain services and meet demand across the network."The Ardrossan-Campbeltown route has been cancelled for a third year in a row. Full details of services are available at the CalMac website. Four new large Calmac ships are being constructed at a shipyard in Turkey, with the first due for delivery in the coming months, but all four are delayed and will require weeks of crew familiarisation trials before entering service. MV Glen Sannox, built by the Ferguson shipyard, began scheduled sailings in January after years of delays, offering a significant boost for Arran services. Its sister ship Glen Rosa is currently due for delivery in September but a further delay is expected and a new update from the yard is awaited.
