Labour Unveils Plan to Overhaul Scotland's 'Broken' Ferry Network
Scottish Labour has pledged a major overhaul of what it calls the "broken system" plaguing Scotland's island communities, with plans to merge key ferry bodies to slash bureaucracy and improve services. Party leader Anas Sarwar will visit the Stornoway ferry terminal on the Isle of Lewis on Monday to highlight the issues and detail Labour's proposals ahead of May's election.
Merger Aims to Streamline Operations and Cut Delays
A Labour government in Holyrood would combine ferry operator CalMac and procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) into a single agency. This move is designed to address long-standing criticisms, particularly around the construction of vessels like the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow, which have faced massive delays and budget overruns, with one still not in service.
The newly merged agency would feature local representation on its board and establish a new ferry procurement process, along with a rolling replacement programme to modernise the ageing fleet. Labour argues this will help reduce the "unprecedented" upheaval recently seen on the ferry network, where eight major vessels were taken off service due to weather and technical issues.
Soaring Cancellations Highlight Systemic Failures
Figures obtained by Labour through freedom of information laws reveal a stark increase in cancellations. Between 2015 and 2025, CalMac cancellations more than doubled from 6,822 annually to 13,647. Technical cancellations surged more than nine-fold, from 709 to 7,371, underscoring the fleet's reliability crisis.
Anas Sarwar stated: "Cancellations have sky-rocketed because of the SNP's failure to upgrade Scotland's lifeline ferry fleet. Right across Scotland, the SNP's ferry fiasco is a symbol of their incompetence and waste – but in our islands it has wreaked havoc with people's day to day lives."
He added that behind these figures are islanders who have missed weddings, funerals, and medical appointments, with businesses struggling to stay afloat. "Enough is enough – it is time to put an end to the SNP's ferry fiasco and give island communities the reliable lifeline service they deserve," Sarwar emphasised.
Political Clash Over Ferry Solutions
The SNP responded by acknowledging "challenges" with the ferry network but criticised Labour's pledges as doing "nothing" to build more ferries. An SNP spokesman said: "The SNP is getting on with addressing the challenge of renewing our ageing fleet with more than £2 billion invested in ferry services in our time in office – that's what our island communities want to see and that's exactly what we are doing."
They highlighted operating more sailings and routes than ever before, arguing that island communities need action, not "soundbites from Sarwar."
CalMac's Response and Future Plans
A CalMac spokesman noted that technical outages are a significant risk with an ageing fleet, compounded by increased demand. "That is why we're phasing in regular maintenance time across our fleet to drive down the amount of unplanned technical disruptions and cancellations," they explained.
CalMac also pointed to future improvements, with six major and seven small vessels set to join the fleet between 2025 and 2029, which should enhance reliability and reduce technical cancellations.
As the election approaches, Labour's ferry merger plan positions the party as offering a clear alternative to address what it describes as a crisis of incompetence, aiming to secure votes from frustrated islanders and taxpayers alike.
