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Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop attends South Uist ferry 'crisis' meeting New ferry funding promised to islanders at South Uist 'crisis' meeting
(about 4 hours later)
MV Isle of Mull is currently serving South Uist but is restricted to carrying 45 passengers The transport secretary said funding had been earmarked for a replacement for MV Lord of the Isles
Scotland's transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, is attending a "crisis" meeting called by islanders on South Uist over disruption to ferry services. Funding has been earmarked for another new large ferry to serve the Western Isles, Scotland's transport secretary has told islanders.
The direct route to the mainland from the second largest island in the Outer Hebrides is currently served by a ship restricted to carrying just 45 passengers. Fiona Hyslop said money was allocated in the budget to replace the ageing MV Lord of the Isles, which serves South Uist, within "about three years".
A business group said the island's economy had been suffering from years of unreliable ferry services due to lack of investment. Hyslop made the pledge at a "crisis summit" called by an island business group which claims economic development is being stifled by ferries disruption.
On the eve of the meeting, the Scottish government announced it was creating a £4.4m resilience fund to help islanders during the current difficulties. South Uist has been particularly badly hit by a shortage of vessels on CalMac routes, and is currently served by a ship restricted to just 45 passengers.
Ministers have also announced an extension of free ferry travel for young people. West coast ferry services have been under intense pressure as the state-owned ferry operator awaits the arrival of replacement vessels for its ageing fleet.
From June, the concessionary ferry vouchers scheme will include those aged between 19 and 21, allowing four free journeys between their home island and the Scottish mainland each year. Winter maintenance has revealed new faults in older ships and forced it to rejig the expected deployment of ferries around the network.
Concessions had already been introduced this month allowing free inter-island travel for anyone under 22 within Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, similar to the free bus travel scheme that operates throughout Scotland. MV Lord of the Isles, which normally sails from Lochboisdale on South Uist to the mainland port of Mallaig, is currently serving other routes and will not return until mid-May.
South Uist has been under particular pressure recently as state-owned ferry operator CalMac struggles with a shortage of ships while it awaits replacements for its ageing fleet. MV Isle of Mull is instead sailing from the island to Oban, but a fault with its emergency evacuation chutes means it is only permitted to carry 45 passengers instead of the 900 it can normally accommodate.
Winter maintenance has uncovered new problems with several vessels, forcing CalMac to rejig its schedules and move ferries onto different routes. MV Isle of Mull is currently serving South Uist but is restricted to carrying 45 passengers
MV Lord of the Isles, which normally sails between Lochboisdale on South Uist and the mainland port of Mallaig, is deployed elsewhere until mid-May. On the eve of the meeting, the Scottish government announced a £4.4m "resilience fund" to help island businesses during the current difficult period.
A replacement vessel, MV Isle of Mull, although designed to carry 900 passengers is currently restricted to just 45 - the number that can fit in the traditional lifeboats. This is because of a fault with its emergency evacuation chute system. A concessionary fare scheme for young islanders will also be extended this summer, giving four free journeys to the mainland for those aged between 19 and 21.
Instead of sailing to Mallaig, it travels to Oban, 85 miles away from the normal scheduled port. Earlier this month, under 22s in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles became entitled to free inter-island travel in a scheme similar to the free bus travel for young people introduced throughout Scotland.
Fiona Hyslop, third from right, joined a panel of politicians, civil servants and CalMac representatives to hear the concerns of islandersFiona Hyslop, third from right, joined a panel of politicians, civil servants and CalMac representatives to hear the concerns of islanders
John Daniel Peteranna, from the South Uist Business Group which is hosting what it calls a "ferry crisis summit", said the island's economic potential in areas like seafood, distilleries and tourism was being stifled. The South Uist Business Impact Group called the "crisis summit", claiming the island had suffered "reputational damage" from years of under investment.
He said businesses had suffered five years of reputational damage due to unreliable transport links to the mainland. Spokesperson John Daniel Peteranna told the BBC: "When we set up the business group three years ago we didn't think things could get any worse but they have surprised us."
"When we set up the business group three years ago we didn't think things could get any worse but they have surprised us," he told BBC Scotland News. Replacement plans for MV Lord of the Isles, the third oldest large ship in the CalMac fleet, was one of the issues the group was seeking answers on.
The meeting has been attended by local MSPs as well as representatives from CalMac, although the operator's chief executive and chairman were not present. Hyslop told the meeting that funding for the procurement of a new ferry was included in the 2025/26 budget.
The business group said it would be asking for more details on the resilience funding and whether more can be done to improve services until the return of Lord of the Isles in May. Another £4m had been allocated for site investigation work for a proposed new ferry terminal on Gasay island, a short distance from the existing Lochboisdale pier.
It was also be seeking an update on plans to replace the 36-year-old vessel and upgrade the harbour facilities at Lochboisdale. On the resilience fund, she said help would be "targeted" at island communities worst affected by disruption but that South Uist would "definitely benefit".
CalMac has faced severe pressures maintaining its ageing fleet
The Scottish government said it was working out eligibility criteria for the resilience funding, and this would be discussed at the meeting.
Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: "We know that the current situation of delays and ongoing maintenance to some vessels has created real difficulties for some.
"We are determined to do everything we can to support islands, their local businesses and employers through these challenging times."
Vessel shortage Fleet renewal
CalMac said it had put on extra sailings from South Uist to Barra, which offers an alternative route to Oban on the mainland. During the 1980s and 90s CalMac would typically purchase a new ship every few years but since 2007 the procurement role has been taken on by a separate government owned company, CMAL.
The firm's chief operating officer Diane Burke attended the meeting. Problems over the construction of two new gas-powered ferries ordered in 2015 contributed to a slowdown in ferry replacement - and much of CalMac's large ship fleet is now beyond its expected operational life.
A spokesperson said: "We recognise the current challenges with our major vessel fleet has led to disruption on a number or routes, particularly on South Uist. CalMac has faced severe pressures maintaining its ageing fleet
"We've been in regular contact with local representatives throughout this period of disruption to ensure the community is kept informed about the service." The first new large ferry in a decade, MV Glen Sannox, entered service in January while its sister ship MV Glen Rosa remains under construction.
Two ageing vessels, MV Hebrides and MV Caledonian Isles, are currently undergoing repairs, while MV Hebridean Isles was retired from service late last year. In 2022 and 2023 contracts for another four ships were placed with a Turkish shipyard, but these are also delayed, with the first delivery now due in the summer.
Ferries procurement body CMAL is awaiting the arrival of the first of four new CalMac ferries being built in Turkey, but these are delayed and the first vessel - MV Isle of Islay - is not expected until later this summer. Earlier this year CalMac warned it was facing "exceptional" pressures as it awaited the arrival of the new vessels.
The long-delayed MV Glen Sannox, built by the Ferguson Marine shipyard, is now in service on the Arran route but its sister ship MV Glen Rosa is still under construction and a new update on its delivery is awaited. The 32-year-old MV Caledonian Isles has been out of service for more than a year for repairs, MV Hebridean Isles had to be retired and other vessels have had problems identified during winter overhauls.
CMAL said the redevelopment of Lochboisdale and the replacement of MV Lord of the Isles were both dependent on funding approval by Transport Scotland. The ferry operator said it had been providing extra sailings from South Uist to Barra to offer an alternative route to the mainland, and it was considering whether sailing times for this option could be extended.