Introduction

This website details proposals to help remedy the appalling 557 ferry cancellations on the Arran routes in the first ten months of 2018…

We believe the minimum required is to introduce a third ferry onto the Arran route, either by…

CalMac Ferries Ltd

or…

Scotslion Ferries Ltd

Another Ferry Company. For example: Here.

The subscribers to this specific Scotslion ferries website are primarily involved in renovation projects to get old, closed shops, shut hotels and empty industrial units refurbished and back into meaningful use. Over 100 new jobs created since we started the first effort. The current project is number 26.

There are over 300 friends and colleagues who enjoy creating jobs and bringing old buildings back to life. Many stem from when we were structured as a small public limited company. We now operate as a private equity group with a broad portfolio of projects in the pipeline.

Amongst our group are a number of naval officers – chief engineers, master mariners and shipowners/shipbuilders. This is relevant as our latest building refurbishment project is on the island of Arran, and in a lifetime of living on the island, those who grew up on Arran cannot recall the ferry cancellations being so disruptive to island life. As 2018 draws to a close, real jobs are being lost and investment decisions altered because people are changing their mind about coming to Arran. Many worry they will not be able to get off the island when their visit finishes. CalMac are an iconic company and beloved by the majority. But islanders and visitors are getting incredibly weary at the chronic failures at CalMac HQ.

Hence the endeavour of whether CalMac can be persuaded to learn lessons from other ferry companies in order to remedy the chaotic 2018 season.

The alternative is for an independent ferry operator (not necessarily ourselves) to buy another ferry and place it, on service between Ardrossan and Brodick, or possibly Troon and Brodick.

The initial ferry is likely to be freight-only as that appears to be part of the difficulty at CalMac.

HGV vehicle bookings mean the mezzanine car decks cannot be used on the MV Caledonian Isles. Some HGV bookings are not taken up and this results in great frustration as cars cannot get booked, yet the drivers see a lot of unused deck space on the ferry.

Worse, the elderly CalMac/CMAL fleet is becoming more prone to breakdowns. CalMac have a serious problem with 557 ferry cancellations on their Arran routes with more to add during November and December 2018 official returns.

The triumvirate of disruption is the late delivery of MV Glen Sannox and the worry (including CalMac sea going crew) that the new ship is overly large and has too much sail area to fit into Ardrossan Harbour when the wind is above a certain speed and in the wrong direction.

***********

Please feel free to send in your views as the subscribers need these in order to firmly nudge CalMac into providing a third ship for Arran, or to have the understanding what islanders need if Scotslion Ferries are to do the job of providing a third ferry themselves.

Tel/Text: 0757 276 8795

Royal Mail: Scotslion Ferries Ltd., Ingledene Office, Sannox Bay Hotel, Sannox, Isle of Arran, KA27 8JD.