CalMac has seven of its ten main ferries out of action, creating an unprecedented situation. Four major vessels are in overhaul: MV Alfred, due back 6 April; MV Loch Frisa, due back 9 April; MV Hebrides, due back 15 April; and MV Isle of Lewis, due back at the end of May. Three other ferries are out of action with technical issues: MV Caledonian Isles, off service since 22 March; MV Isle of Arran, off service since Wednesday; and MV Glen Sannox, which went off service on Thursday morning.
CalMac's new ferry MV Isle of Islay was conducting sea trials to rectify outstanding issues and was at significant risk of not being in service for the start of the summer timetable. Recent returns offer some relief but highlight ongoing vulnerabilities. MV Isle of Islay entered service after snagging issues were resolved.
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.
MV Lord of the Isles is ready to sail again after problems with its main engine put it out of action. The return of Glen Sannox means the Arran route again has a two-ferry service, provided sailings are not disrupted by weather. Community impact is severe, with specific routes facing complete suspension.
There will be no ferry service on the Mallaig/Armadale route from March 28 to April 11, and the two ferries Loch Bhrusda and Coruisk could be removed without any notice beyond this date. The Mallaig/Armadale route is under serious threat from mismanagement by CalMac, according to community reports. Residents of Mallaig and the Sleat Peninsula are treated as second-class citizens, cut off from essential services, local sources say.
Behind these shameful figures are islanders who have missed weddings, funerals and medical appointments, and businesses that are struggling. Enough is enough – it is time to put an end to the SNP’s ferry fiasco.
Historical context shows a worsening trend of cancellations over the past decade. Breakdowns accounted for more than half of the cancellations on Scotland's ferry fleet last year, with 7,371 technical cancellations in 2025 compared to 709 in 2015. Total cancellations rose from 6,822 in 2015 to 13,647 last year.
Political reactions have been sharp, with opposition leaders blaming government mismanagement. The SNP's ferry fiasco is a symbol of their incompetence and waste, according to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. The Scottish Government has invested more than £2 billion in ferry services, an SNP spokesman said.
Future fleet plans aim to address the shortages but face uncertainties. Six major and seven small vessels will join the CalMac fleet between 2025 and 2029. CalMac's ferry shortage is reaching a much better place with a third major vessel set to resume service.
International comparisons reveal similar frustrations in other regions. The current ferry schedule in Loppa municipality is not good enough, with low capacity, too few departures, and too little predictability, according to local reports. Loppa municipality and Finnmark county will have a meeting about the ferry schedules at the end of April.