Tourism boss calls for rapid funds for island firms amid ferry chaos
Sailings cancelled on “Skye triangle” route across Little Minch
A tourism leader in the Outer Hebrides has urged further rapid financial support for island businesses hit hard by chronic CalMac ferry disruption after faults with two ferries serving the Western Isles triggered more cancellations.
Sarah Maclean, chief executive of Visit Outer Hebrides, said additional resilience funding was “crucial to supporting our businesses to survive as well as to rebuild our reputation as a destination”.
Her comments came as fault-prone CalMac ferry Hebrides broke down for the third time since returning from extended repairs and annual overhaul three weeks ago, forcing the cancellation of some sailings between Skye, Harris and North Uist on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The problem with Hebrides’ port (left) main engine on Tuesday halted services between Uig, Tarbert and Lochmaddy.
Ms Maclean said: “On behalf of the businesses we represent and the communities they sustain we are dismayed at the news that yet again a key vessel is out of service.
“This is just the latest in years of ferry disruption which has impacted our visitor season.
“Sadly, navigating constant changes to timetables, vessel deployment and capacity has become the new normal for businesses in the Outer Hebrides and at a substantial cost to them.”
Ms Maclean said the further resilience funding was “crucial to supporting our businesses to survive as well as to rebuild our reputation as a destination”.
She said: “Meaningful support to island communities can and must be delivered quickly.”
Meanwhile, another CalMac ferry, Lord of the Isles, has a continuing problem with its bow thruster, forcing the diversion of sailings from Lochboisdale in South Uist from Mallaig to Oban.
CalMac said on Wednesday that work was “progressing” on the engine repair to the Hebrides and the vessel was able to return to service with a 2pm sailing from Uig to Tarbert.
A spokesperson said: “The vessel required a replacement part and an external contractor, both of which we had to get to Uig.
“Repairs started at 6am and we've published an amended timetable for this afternoon and expect repairs to complete.
“The replacement part was a governor - an automatic control device that maintains a consistent speed for engines and generators.”
During the election campaign, the SNP pledged £10 million to help communities and businesses impacted by ferry disruption, which followed £4.4m funding last year.
Western Isles (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) Labour MSP Donald MacKinnon called for the Scottish Government’s new islands resilience fund to be widened to all businesses affected.
Raising the issue at First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday, Mr MacKinnon said: “Uist is receiving a significantly reduced ferry service, given that the Hebrides is out of action and Lord of the Isles is experiencing ongoing technical problems.
“Last week, the First Minister told us that the amplification of such issues is damaging to island communities. What is in fact damaging to them is his Government’s failure to deliver an adequate ferry service.
“A recent survey that was carried out by Visit Outer Hebrides revealed that 96 per cent of the businesses that responded had encountered problems as a result of ferry disruption this year.”
Mr Swinney told him: “There will be challenges on the ferry network, but we are in a more robust and stronger position than we were.
“We have to make an assessment of where the patterns of disruption have taken their course.
“I accept there is an aspiration for there to be compensation in all circumstances but, as part of the assessment, there has to be a recognition of the scale of disruption.
“We will shortly announce the details of how the fund will be taken forward and distributed.”
The latest setback for 26-year-old Hebrides follows a series of problems since it returned to service on May 13 after unscheduled repairs following its annual maintenance.
A leak was found in the charge cooler of its port engine, days after a problem with its emergency generator, both of which disrupted services.
Those followed three weeks of extra repairs in Aberdeen following its refit in Leith.
The ferry, which can carry 600 passengers and 90 cars, suffered gearbox problems then other faults as it was returning to the west coast from Edinburgh.
It was diverted to Aberdeen, where a leak in its bow door seal was repaired. It also suffered problems with an engine speed controller and sprung a hydraulic deck leak.
CalMac had hoped it would restore “full normality” to its west coast network for the first time in months when Hebrides returned in May along with Isle of Lewis, which had been out of action since February, along with Isle of Arran after a six-week absence.
However, chief executive Duncan Mackison told The Scotsman a month ago that the operator would remain “on the edge” of further major disruption until three new ferries arrived from Turkey over the next year.
He said the company had been in "crisis management mode" after nearly one third of its vessels were out of action in March, with long-serving staff describing it as the toughest time they had known.
He said: “The combination of vessel breakdowns and disruption has been unprecedented and the network at times has been very fragile in terms of the service we have been able to offer.”
Other problems with the fleet include its newest ferry, Isle of Islay, which entered service in March, being unable to use its bow ramp.
Vehicles are having to board and disembark from the stern, which CalMac said could cause longer turnarounds and vehicles having to reverse or or off the vessel.
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