Adobe StockFerry operator CalMac has said it is dealing with an “unprecedented level of challenges”.
Eight ferries are out of action, with disruption impacting “virtually every island” served by a major vessel.
Four ferries are currently undergoing scheduled maintenance, while the other four are facing a range of unplanned technical issues.
The MV Glen Sannox was taken out of commission due to engine issues, the MV Isle of Arran because of damaged couplings on its bow thrusters and the MV Isle of Islay due to issues with its power management system.
Labour vows to merge ferry bodies and fix ‘broken system’
Scottish Labour has pledged to “cut bureaucracy” by merging ferry bodies in a bid to fix the “broken system” relied on by islanders.
Party leader Anas Sarwar will visit the ferry terminal in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis on Monday to highlight issues facing the country’s west coast ferry fleet and lay out his plans ahead of May’s election.
A Labour government in Holyrood would merge ferry operator CalMac and ferry procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the party has said.
CMAL has come in for particular criticism in recent years over the building of the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow, with both vessels having been massively delayed and over-budget and one still not in service.
Labour said the newly merged agency would have local representation on its board, and would create a new ferry procurement process, along with a rolling replacement programme to modernise the ageing fleet.
Figures released to Labour under freedom of information laws show CalMac cancellations more than doubled between 2015 and 2025, from 6,822 annually to 13,647.
The number of cancellations for technical reasons also increased more than nine-fold, from 709 to 7,371.
Scottish Greens pledge integrated transport ticketing system
The Scottish Greens have committed to bringing in a “tap-on, tap-off” ticketing system for the country’s public transport, funded by scrapping road projects.
Under the proposals, commuters and travellers will be able to use one ticket – capped at a daily limit – for travel across the country.
The party’s co-leader Ross Greer said the plans – dubbed the Scotcard – would cover trains, buses and ferries and mimic other systems seen in Europe.
The funding would come from scrapping road-building projects, with the party saying the priority should be getting people out of cars.
“This will make public transport journeys easier and cheaper. It builds on the track record of Green MSPs, who have already saved commuters a fortune by introducing free bus travel for young people and scrapping peak rail fares,” said Greer.
“Integrated flat fares have been common across Europe for years, but Scotland has trailed behind. It’s time for us to finally catch up and deliver a system that works for people and planet.”
Swinney to push for powers over energy if SNP wins election
First Minister John Swinney will push the UK Government for Holyrood control over energy policy if his party wins May’s election, he has said.
Speaking ahead of a visit to the north-east of Scotland, Mr Swinney said an SNP-run government – which would be returned to power after a fifth straight election victory – would draft a Section 30 order that would give the Scottish Parliament powers over energy on the first day after his re-election as First Minister.
Section 30 of the Scotland Act allows the UK Government to devolve powers to Holyrood and was used to allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for the independence referendum in 2014.
Given the value of Scotland’s energy – particularly the oil and gas in the North Sea – the UK Government is extremely unlikely to grant such a move, which the First Minister said would confirm that Scottish independence is the only way to bring down household bills.
If the SNP was to make the request on the first day of the new parliamentary term, it would do so without a finalised energy strategy being produced by the Government.
The document was published in draft form under Nicola Sturgeon – including a presumption against new oil and gas – but never finalised, with a spokesman for the First Minister last week blaming the volatility in the global sector and the party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn saying confusion caused by the UK Government made it difficult to produce a plan.
I don’t trust Swinney to control Scotland’s energy, says Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch has said she would not trust the First Minister with Scotland’s energy policy after he said his party would call for more powers if it won May’s election.
John Swinney revealed on Monday he would draft a Section 30 order to acquire the responsibilities over energy on the first day after he was re-elected as First Minister.
The order would then have to be accepted and actioned by the UK Government – something they would be very unlikely to do.
Speaking to the Press Association in Aberdeen during a visit to an oil rig, the UK Tory leader said: “I do not trust John Swinney with Scotland’s energy.”
She added: “The SNP’s policy is pretty non-committal, so if he took control of those powers, we will still not be drilling.
“What we need to do right now is allow new licences, make sure that we can drill our own oil and gas and use those revenues to help the people of Scotland.”
During her visit to the north east of Scotland, the Tory leader touted her party’s new campaign to “get Britain drilling”, in the hopes of increasing energy security.
Speaking to STV News during a visit to Stornoway on Monday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the calls were the First Minister talking “about what he can’t do, rather than confront what he can do”.
“This is the same old John Swinney doing the same old tactics,” he said.
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