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The Glen Sannox ferry finally began its services this year after several delays. CalMac, the state-owned ferry operator, has compensated passengers with over £460,000 due to delays and cancellations in its services since April of the previous year. In 2024-25, the operator paid £432,735 in compensation to travelers, with an additional £33,792 paid out in May and June of this year. These compensation payments have surged by 37% compared to the previous year, although slightly lower than the payouts in 2022-23, which totaled £454,000 for delayed passengers.
According to figures obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, just over 5% of sailings on the network have been canceled in the last 10 years. Jamie Greene, the Lib Dem transport spokesman, criticized the Scottish government for the deterioration of the ferry network. He highlighted reliability issues within the CalMac fleet and the delays in introducing new vessels to service. The Glen Sannox ferry, constructed by Port Glasgow’s Ferguson Marine shipyard, was delivered many years late and over budget. Its counterpart, the Glen Rosa, will not be delivered until early next year because of a series of setbacks.
The MV Caledonian Isles, out of service since January last year, may undergo additional repairs that could prolong its downtime for another four months. The Lib Dems have initiated a consultation on the future of the country’s ferry services. Greene stated that both staff and passengers have been disappointed by the SNP’s management of the network. He mentioned, “The SNP government acquired the company and failed to deliver new ferries on time and within budget, resulting in substantial bills for compensation and repairs, adversely impacting the lives of constituents along the west coast.”
Data uncovered by the Lib Dems through a freedom of information request showed more than 7,000 compensation claims submitted by passengers between April 2023 and April 2025. CalMac has disbursed a sum of £1.9m in compensation since the 2017-18 financial year. The operator expects to introduce an additional 13 vessels to its fleet by 2029. When delays or cancellations occur, staff work diligently to find alternative routes or sailings for passengers. CalMac acknowledged their aging fleet and the consequent technical challenges. However, they are optimistic about the arrival of 13 new vessels by 2029, which should mitigate technical issues and enhance service reliability for passengers
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