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The construction of four new ferries in Turkey has incurred costs of over £1 million in sending CalMac and CMAL staff to oversee the project, according to a recent freedom of information request. The two companies, responsible for managing Scotland’s nationalized ferry networks, have spent a total of £1,016,162 on various expenses related to staff visits to the Turkish yard since 2022. The revelation of these expenses has sparked criticism from the Scottish Conservatives, who argue that taxpayers are bearing the burden of the SNP’s “ferries fiasco” which has left islanders without necessary vessels.
Both CalMac and CMAL have defended the expenditure, emphasizing the importance of their staff’s presence in Turkey for the successful completion of the new ferries. A CalMac spokeswoman clarified that the majority of the costs went towards staff remuneration, including wages that would have been paid regardless of the location of the crew. Additional expenses of £23,000 covered travel and subsistence costs such as flights, hotel accommodation, and general expenses. CMAL echoed that the wages for its personnel would have remained the same irrespective of travel costs. The vessels being constructed at the Cemre shipyard in Turkey include the MV Isle of Islay, MV Loch Indaal, MV Lochmor, and MV Claymore.
Tory transport spokeswoman Sue Webber criticized the “excessive” spending, pointing out that taxpayers are once again being burdened with additional costs related to ferry construction. She expressed concerns about the mounting expenses on top of the previous cost overruns and delays experienced with the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa ferries built by Ferguson Marine. Webber called on SNP ministers to provide necessary support to Ferguson Marine to enable ferry construction within Scotland. In response, a CalMac spokeswoman emphasized the essential nature of adding new vessels to the fleet, highlighting the rigorous work being carried out by staff in Turkey to ensure compliance with legal and safety standards.
The ongoing collaboration between CMAL, the shipyard, and relevant authorities aims to streamline the construction process and reduce delays between the delivery of each new vessel. Transport Scotland anticipates the delivery of MV Isle of Islay later in the year, with continued progress on vessels like MV Lochmor. Despite the criticisms and concerns surrounding the expenses incurred in overseeing ferry construction in Turkey, the focus remains on enhancing service resilience and reliability for all customers, particularly in remote island communities
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