| Type | Public (State-Owned) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Headquarters | Gourock, Scotland, UK |
| Area served | River Clyde, Outer Hebrides, Inner Hebrides |
| Services | Ferries |
| Owner(s) | Scottish Government |
| Parent | David MacBrayne Ltd |
| Website | http://www.calmac.co.uk/ |
Caledonian MacBrayne (usually shortened to Cal Mac; Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn in Scottish Gaelic) is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast. Since 2006 the company's official name has been CalMac Ferries Ltd although it still operates as Caledonian MacBrayne. In 2006 it also became a subsidiary of holding company David MacBrayne Ltd, which is owned by the Scottish Government.[1]
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MacBrayne's, initially known as David Hutcheson & Co., began in 1851 as a private steamship operator when G. and J. Burns, operators of the largest of the Clyde fleets, decided to concentrate on coastal and transatlantic services and handed control of their river and Highland steamers to a new company in which Hutcheson, their manager of these services, became senior partner. Their main route went from Glasgow down the Firth of Clyde through the Crinan Canal to Oban and Fort William, and on through the Caledonian Canal to Inverness.
With the retirement of the founders of David Hutcheson & Co in the 1870s, their partner (and nephew of Messrs. Burns) David MacBrayne gained full ownership, and changed the company's name accordingly. It remained in the hands of the MacBrayne family until 1928 when, unable to carry on, it was acquired jointly by the LMS Railway and Coast Lines. Its ships featured red funnels with a black top.
The Caledonian Railway at first used the services of various early private operators of Clyde steamers, then began operating steamers on its own account on 1 January 1889 to compete better with the North British Railway and the Glasgow and South Western Railway. It extended its line to bypass the G & SW Prince's Pier at Greenock and continue on to the fishing village of Gourock, where they had purchased the harbour.
After years of fierce competition between all the fleets, the Caledonian and G & SW were merged in 1923 into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and their fleets were amalgamated into the Caledonian Steam Packet Company. Their funnels were painted yellow with a black top. At the same time the North British Railway fleet became part of the LNER (which built the PS Waverley in 1947). With nationalisation in 1948 the LMS and LNER fleets were amalgamated under British Railways with the name Clyde Shipping Services. In 1957 a reorganisation restored the CSP name, and in 1965 a red lion was added to each side of the black-topped yellow funnels. The headquarters remained at Gourock pierhead.
At the end of December 1968 management of the CSP passed to the Scottish Transport Group, which gained control of MacBrayne's the following June. The MacBrayne service from Gourock to Ardrishaig ended on 30 September 1969, leaving the Clyde entirely to the CSP.
On 1 January 1973 the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. acquired most of the ships and routes of MacBrayne's and commenced joint Clyde and West Highland operations under the new name of Caledonian MacBrayne, with a combined headquarters at Gourock. Funnels were now painted red with a black top, and a yellow circle at the side of the funnel featuring the red Caledonian lion. In 1974 a new car ferry service from Gourock to Dunoon was introduced with the ferries MV Jupiter and MV Juno.
In 1990 the ferry business was spun off as a separate company, keeping the Caledonian MacBrayne brand, and shares were issued in the company. All shares were owned by the state, first in the person of the Secretary of State for Scotland, and (after devolution) by the Scottish Executive.
A joint venture between Caledonian MacBrayne and the Royal Bank of Scotland named Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries won the tender for the subsidised Northern Isles services, previously run by P&O Scottish Ferries, commencing in 2002. The ambitious programme ran into financial difficulties, and the service was again put out to tender. Caledonian MacBrayne won this tender, and formed a separate company called NorthLink Ferries Limited which began operating the Northern Isles ferry service on 6 July 2006.[2]
To meet the requirements of European Union Community guidelines on State aids to maritime transport, the company's routes were put out to open tender. To enable competitive bidding on an equal basis, Caledonian MacBrayne was split into two separate companies on 1 October 2006. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) retained ownership of CalMac vessels and infrastructure, including harbours, while CalMac Ferries Ltd submitted tenders to be the ferry operator. Their bid for the main bundle, Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, succeeded and on 1 October 2007 CalMac Ferries Ltd began operating these services on a six year contract. The Gourock to Dunoon service was the subject of a separate tender, but no formal bids were made. In an interim arrangement CalMac Ferries Ltd continued to provide a subsidised service on this route,[2][3] until 29 June 2011, when Argyll Ferries Ltd took over the service.
On 14 July 2009, it was announced that CalMac would begin controversial Sunday sailings to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis from Sunday 19 July. These have historically faced strong opposition from strong Sabbatarian elements in the Lewis community, particularly the Lord's Day Observance Society and the Free Church of Scotland. However, CalMac states that EU equality legislation makes it unlawful to refuse a service to the whole community because of the religious beliefs of a part of it.[4]
The company enjoys a de-facto monopoly on the shipment of freight and vehicles to the islands, and competes for passenger traffic with number of aircraft services of varying quality and reliability. Nonetheless, few if any of the routes currently operated by CalMac are profitable, and the company receives significant government subsidies due to its vital role in supplying the islands - these routes are classified as "lifeline" services. In 1996 CalMac opened its first route outside Scotland, winning a ten year contract to provide a lifeline service to Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland.
Various versions of a local poem (based loosely on Psalm 24) refer to MacBrayne's long dominance of Hebridean sailings:
The Earth belongs unto the Lord
And all that it contains
Except the Kyles and the Western Isles
And they are all MacBrayne's
Several groups have proposed privatising the service, and there has been a long commercial and political struggle with a privately owned company, Western Ferries, which has run a rival unsubsidised service from Gourock to Hunters Quay (near Dunoon) since 1973. In 2005, the Scottish Executive put the collective Hebrides routes out to competitive tender, with the Dunoon route being a separate tender.[5] Some island and union groups opposed the tendering process, fearing it would lead to cuts in services and could be a prelude to full privatisation.
During the tendering period, the company of David MacBrayne Ltd., which had been legally dormant for many years, was re-activated on 4 July 2006. David MacBrayne Group Ltd. acquired the full share capital of Northlink Ferries Ltd., and took over operations of the Northlink routes on 6 July 2006. Three operators submitted bids for the block of routes[6] with CalMac retaining all its existing routes. During September 2006, David MacBrayne Group Ltd., acquired the entire share capital of CalMac Ferries Ltd. Thus, from leaving the hands of David MacBrayne 78 years earlier in 1928, the west coast ferry service returned to the fold in 2006, vastly enlarged.
At the time, no bids were made for the separate Gourock–Dunoon route and the service continued as before. In August 2006, David MacBrayne Group Ltd., directed two of its subsidiary companies, Cowal Ferries Ltd., and Rathlin Ferries Ltd., to take over operation of the Gourock to Dunoon, and Rathlin to Ballycastle services. Following a European Commission decision to not subsidise a passenger and vehicle service, the route was again put out to tender. In May 2011, Argyll Ferries Ltd, a newly formed subsidiary of David MacBrayne, was named as the preferred bidder for a passenger-only Dunoon-Gourock service. The timetable was extended into the early hours over weekends, with additional sailings integrated with rail services. Two passenger-only ferries, MV Ali Cat and MV Argyll Flyer (ex-Banrion Chonomara), were arranged for the run.[7] When the service began on 30 June 2011, preparation of the Argyll Flyer was incomplete, and as an interim measure the cruise boat MV Clyde Clipper was leased from Clyde Cruises.[8]
| Between | And | Crossing | Voyage Time | Regular Vessel(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarbert, Kintyre Peninsula | Portavadie, Cowal | Loch Fyne | 0 hours 25 minutes | MV Isle of Cumbrae |
| Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde | Rothesay, Isle of Bute | Firth of Clyde | 0 hours 35 minutes | MVs Argyle & Bute |
| Colintraive, Cowal | Rhubodach, Northern Bute | Kyles of Bute | 0 hours 05 minutes | MV Loch Dunvegan |
| Largs, North Ayrshire | Cumbrae Slip, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae | Firth of Clyde | 0 hours 10 minutes | MVs Loch Shira & Loch Riddon |
| Ardrossan, North Ayrshire | Brodick, Isle of Arran | Firth of Clyde | 0 hours 55 minutes | MV Caledonian Isles & MV Saturn |
| Claonaig, Eastern Kintyre Peninsula | Lochranza, Isle of Arran | Kilbrannan Sound | 0 hours 30 minutes | MV Loch Tarbert |
| Tayinloan, Western Kintyre | Ardminish, Isle of Gigha | Sound of Gigha | 0 hours 20 minutes | MV Loch Ranza |
| Kennacraig, Western Kintyre | Port Ellen, Southern Islay | via West Loch Tarbert, Argyll | 2 hours 20 minutes | MVs Finlaggan, Hebridean Isles & Isle of Arran |
| Kennacraig | Port Askaig, Eastern Islay | Sound of Islay | 2 hours 5 minutes | |
| Port Askaig | Scalasaig, Isle of Colonsay | 1 hour 10 minutes | ||
| Oban, Argyll | Scalasaig, Colonsay | 2 hours 20 minutes | MVs Isle of Mull & Lord of the Isles | |
| Oban | Craignure, Isle of Mull | Firth of Lorne | 0 hours 46 minutes | MV Isle of Mull |
| Lochaline, Morvern Peninsula | Fishnish, Mull | Sound of Mull | 0 hours 15 minutes | MV Loch Fyne |
| Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan Peninsula | Tobermory, Mull | Sound of Mull | 0 hours 35 minutes | MV Loch Linnhe |
| Fionnphort, Ross of Mull | Iona | Sound of Iona | 0 hours 10 minutes | MV Loch Buie |
| Oban | Achnacroish, Isle of Lismore | Lynn of Lorne | 0 hours 50 minutes | MV Eigg |
| Oban | Arinagour, Isle of Coll | Firth of Lorne / Sound of Mull | 2 hours 55 minutes | MVs Clansman & Lord of the Isles |
| Oban | Scarinish, Isle of Tiree | Sound of Mull / Little Minch | 3 hours 20 minutes | |
| Oban | Castlebay, Isle of Barra | Sound of Mull / Little Minch | 5 hours | |
| Oban | Lochboisdale, South Uist | Sound of Mull / Little Minch | 5 hours 20 minutes | |
| Mallaig | Armadale, Sleat Peninsula, Skye | Sound of Sleat | 0 hours 25 minutes | MV Coruisk |
| Mallaig | Small Isles (Eigg, Muck, Rùm & Canna) | MV Lochnevis | ||
| Sconser, Skye | Raasay | Narrows of Raasay | 0 hours 15 minutes | MV Loch Striven |
| Ardmhor (Barra) | Isle of Eriskay (connected to South Uist by causeway) | Sound of Barra | 0 hours 40 minutes | MV Loch Alainn |
| Uig, Skye | Lochmaddy, North Uist | 1 hour 45 minutes | MV Hebrides | |
| Uig | Tarbert, Harris | 1 hour 45 minutes | ||
| Leverburgh, Harris | Isle of Berneray (connected to North Uist by causeway) | Sound of Harris | 1 hour | MV Loch Portain |
| Ullapool, Wester Ross | Stornoway, Lewis | The Minch | 2 hours 45 minutes | MVs Isle of Lewis & Muirneag |
| Route | Total Passengers (2007) | Passengers (2006) | Passenger Difference | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wemyss Bay - Rothesay | 770,316 | 759,680 | 10,636 | 1.40 |
| Ardrossan - Brodick | 749,062 | 735,928 | 13,134 | 1.78 |
| Claonaig - Lochranza/Tarbet | 54,514 | 52,393 | 2,121 | 4.05 |
| Largs - Cumbrae | 750,416 | 722,561 | 27,855 | 3.86 |
| Colintravie - Rhubodach | 257,528 | 264,644 | -7,116 | 2.69 |
| Tarbet - Portavadie | 60,460 | 67,605 | -7,145 | 10.57 |
| Kennacraig - Islay | 157,408 | 152,526 | 4,882 | 3.20 |
| Oban - Craignure | 596,742 | 640,426 | -43,684 | 6.82 |
| Oban - Castlebay/Lochboisdale | 46,562 | 45,296 | 1,266 | 2.79 |
| Lochaline - Fishnish | 130,097 | 132,897 | -2,800 | 2.11 |
| Kennacraig - Islay - Colonsay - Oban | 8,685 | 7,309 | 1,376 | 18.83 |
| Oban - Inner/Outer Hebrides | 9,419 | 9,494 | -75 | 0.79 |
Calmac has 29 vessels in current service. There are nine 'major units' - ships of 80 m or more in length. The largest ship is the MV Isle of Lewis at 101 m in length. The others are MV Clansman, MV Hebrides, MV Caledonian Isles, MV Isle of Mull, MV Hebridean Isles, MV Finlaggan, MV Isle of Arran and MV Lord of the Isles.
There are 13 "Loch Class" vessels in the company, in different shapes and sizes. These are double-ended ferries with no operational bow or stern (although in official documents the designation of such is given). They are usually symmetrical in shape when viewed from the side. MV Loch Portain is able to handle Force 7 gales and carry 36 cars and 149 passengers, with a crew of five. Calmac's smallest vessels are the 22.5 m "Island Class" ships. They were built as the predecessors to the "Loch Class" and are now slowly being taken out of service. Only two of the original 8 remain in the fleet.
The company is adapting to the demands of 21st century. MV Bute (2005) and MV Argyle (2007), both built in Gdansk, Poland, have taken over the Wemyss Bay / Rothesay route. A new "super loch", MV Loch Shira operates the Largs / Cumbrae route, entering service in 2007. The latest vessel, MV Finlaggan[10] was built in the Remontowa yard, Gdansk, Poland, at a cost of £24.5 million. She is 89.90m long and capable of 16.5 knots. Designed to carry 550 passengers and up to 88 cars, as well as coaches, commercial vehicles and dangerous goods, she is expected on the Islay service in Spring 2011.[11][12]
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