Latest news with #MVHebrides
STV News
08-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Scotland's 'lifeline' ferry service awarded directly to CalMac
The Scottish Government is to directly award a 'lifeline' ferry service contract to the publicly-owned operator CalMac. The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract connects island and remote communities off the west coast of Scotland with the mainland. 'I am pleased to announce that Scottish ministers have confirmed that a direct award of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract should be made to CalMac Ferries Limited,' transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said on Thursday. The award comes after CalMac announced further delays to the return to service of for both the MV Caledonian Isles and the MV Hebrides. However, the Scottish Government has said it 'fully expects' the latest service award to be a 'catalyst for positive change' across the ferry network. Hyslop said she expects the service to be 'based on a more efficient, flexible model of delivery that fully reflects community interests'. 'Discussions will continue with staff, island residents, businesses and communities and trade unions on the arrangements to ensure the services can best meet local needs and wants,' Hyslop said. According to the Scottish Government, this direct award 'fundamentally changes the ethos of the service' by shifting from a commercial arrangement to a model more focused on the delivery of a public service. The new contract includes improvements for the ferry service. Hyslop said those improvement include a new Benefits Realisation Plan, new and revised Key Performance Indicators, enhanced monitoring and reporting, greater regionalisation through dedicated area managers and increased stakeholder engagement. 'Alongside our ongoing investment in infrastructure and an additional twelve new vessels for the network this will improve the overall resilience and capacity of these services, as set out in the recently published Islands Connectivity Plan,' Hyslop said. 'Transport Scotland is now working closely with CalMac Ferries Limited on the necessary arrangements for the commencement of the new contract on October 1, 2025.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
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.
