Caledonian MacBrayne

CalMac Ferries Ltd

Trade name	Caledonian MacBrayne, CalMac
Company type	Government-owned service
Industry	Transport
Founded	1973
Headquarters	Gourock, Scotland[1]
Number of locations	50 ports and harbours across Scotland
Area served	Firth of Clyde, Outer Hebrides, Inner Hebrides
Key people	Duncan Mackison (CEO) (ad interim)[2]
Services	Ferry operations between mainland Scotland and islands
Revenue	£227 million[3]
Operating income	£28 million[4]
Net income	-£3.7 million[4]
Owner	Scottish Government
Number of employees	1,700 (about 1,000 sea going)[5]
Parent	David MacBrayne
Divisions	Argyll Ferries (2011 to 2019)
Subsidiaries	Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Ltd (employer of sea going staff)
Website	www.calmac.co.uk

Caledonian MacBrayne (Scottish Gaelic: Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn), in short form CalMac, is the trade name of CalMac Ferries Ltd, the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries to the west coast of Scotland, serving ports on the mainland and 22 of the major islands. It is a subsidiary of holding company David MacBrayne, which is owned by the Scottish Government.^[6]

Its predecessor, the government owned Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, was formed in 1973 as a ferry owner and operator. In 2006 these functions were separated to meet EU requirements for competitive tendering. The company, renamed Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL), continued to own the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet and assets. The contract for operating Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services using these vessels was put out to open competitive tender. and CalMac Ferries Ltd was created in October 2006 as a separate company to bid for the work.^[6] CalMac was awarded the contract, as well as a later competitive procurement process, and since 1 October 2007 has operated the services.^[7]

CalMac operates 34 vessels to over 50 ports and harbours on the west coast of Scotland (CMAL owns 16 of these ports and harbours). Caledonian MacBrayne operate on average over 162,700 sailings annually. 2018 was the company's busiest in terms of passenger numbers, carrying an estimated 5,309,771 passengers.^[5][8]

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. One of the other partners was David MacBrayne (1817–1907), nephew of Messrs. Burns. In 1878, the company passed to David MacBrayne.^[9]

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. Services were later added to Islay and the Outer Hebrides. In 1928, the company ran into financial difficulties, and the business was acquired by Coast Lines and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS Railway).^[6] In 1948, the shares in the company owned by the LMS Railway passed to the British Transport Commission, thus partially nationalising it. In July 1969, Coast Line's 50% shareholding passed into state ownership, so that the company became wholly nationalised, and all the shares were transferred to the state-owned Scottish Transport Group.

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's 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 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 London and North Eastern Railway (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 Government.

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.^[10] On 29 May 2012, NorthLink Ferries Ltd lost the contract for provision of the Northern Isles ferry services to Serco.^[11]

To meet the requirements of a European Union guideline on state aid 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,^[10][12] until 29 June 2011, when Argyll Ferries took over the service.

The company enjoys a de facto monopoly on the shipment of freight and vehicles to the islands, and competes for passenger traffic with a 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. This service continued until 2008, when CalMac lost the tender.^[13]

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.^[14] 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,^[15] but CalMac retained 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 not to 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 at weekends, with additional sailings integrated with rail services. Two passenger-only ferries, MV Ali Cat and MV Argyll Flyer (formerly MV Banrion Chonomara), were arranged for the run.^[16] 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.^[17]

Argyll Ferries was incorporated into Caledonian MacBrayne on 21 January 2019.^[18]

On 14 July 2009, it was announced that CalMac would begin Sunday sailings to Stornoway on Lewis from Sunday 19 July. These had historically faced strong opposition from Sabbatarian elements in the Lewis community, particularly the Lord's Day Observance Society and the Free Church of Scotland. However, CalMac stated that EU equality legislation made it unlawful to refuse a service to the whole community because of the religious beliefs of a part of it.^[19]

• MV Loch Bhrusda & MV Loch Linnhe are spare and relief vessels.
• MV Caledonian Isles is under repair until further notice^[21]
• MV Glen Sannox, due to enter service on the Troon-Brodick route in early 2025, was handed over to Calmac on 21 November 2024, and is now undergoing crew familiarisation and harbour berthing trials.^[22]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CalMac operated a much reduced timetable. From 22 March 2020, they provided a turn up and go service to ensure essential goods and services were delivered to the islands. There were no reservations and no onboard retail facilities. Timetables were modified to meet local needs, with occasional additional crossings and extended layovers.^[23]

The Portavadie, Campbeltown and Armadale services were cancelled. Crossing frequencies were reduced on other routes, with single vessels at Rothesay, Largs and Kennacraig.^[24] On the smaller vessels, vehicle occupants were required to remain in their vehicle.^[25]

Until Hebrides returned from dry dock in Liverpool, Clansman remained on the Uig triangle, with Lord of the Isles and Isle of Arran providing services to Lochboisdale, Coll/Tiree and Colonsay from Oban. Hebridean Isles operated to Arran (22 April – 2 May) and Islay (27 May – 2 June) while Caledonian Isles and Finlaggan were out of service.^[26]

Unused vessels were laid up: Hebridean Isles in Campbeltown; Coruisk at Craignure; Loch Riddon, Loch Linnhe and Loch Fyne at Sandbank; Loch Bhrusda in Mallaig (covered Sound of Barra service while Loch Alainn in Troon); Argyle and Isle of Cumbrae in Rothesay and Isle of Arran in Troon.^[26]

^{[needs update]}

Passenger numbers on the 10 busiest CalMac routes (2017)^[27]

Route	2017	2016	Change (2016–17)		2014	2006
			Numbers	%
Ardrossan–Brodick	844,198	828,262	15,936	1.92%	715,048	735,928
Largs–Cumbrae	745,619	738,549	7,070	0.96%	706,172	722,561
Wemyss Bay/Gourock–Rothesay	713,906	675,714	38,192	5.65%	674,088	759,680
Oban–Craignure	670,248	644,827	25,421	3.94%	572,084	640,426
Mallaig–Armadale	285,483	250,764	34,719	13.85%	239,453	188,929
Ullapool–Stornoway	275,699	264,055	11,644	4.41%	226,061	181,160
Fionnphort–Iona	250,311	243,211	7,100	2.92%	223,978	255,501
Colintraive–Rhubodach	216,204	232,015	15,811	6.81%	214,550	264,644
Kennacraig–Islay	214,334	203,219	11,115	5.47%	189,822	152,526
Uig–Tarbert/Lochmaddy	195,752	188,138	7,614	4.05%	194,416	148,587

Vessels are owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd. There are 33 vessels in current service, with nine "major units" – ships of 80 m (262 ft) or more in length. The largest is MV Loch Seaforth at 116 m (381 ft) in length. MV Finlaggan is almost 90 m (295 ft) long and able to carry 550 passengers with 88 cars.^[28] She was built in Poland at a cost of £24.5 million and operates the Islay service.^[29] The others are MV Isle of Lewis, MV Clansman, MV Hebrides, MV Caledonian Isles, MV Isle of Mull, MV Isle of Arran and MV Lord of the Isles.^[28] MV Hebridean Isles was withdrawn for scrap and used as spares on 16 November 2024 after finishing its relief duties on the Stornoway route.^[30] MV Glen Sannox, due to enter service on the Troon-Brodick route in early 2025, was handed over to Calmac on 21 November 2024, and is now undergoing crew familiarisation and harbour berthing trials.^[22]

There are 13 "Loch Class" vessels in different shapes and sizes. These double-ended ferries are mostly symmetrical when viewed from the side, with no operational bow or stern (although in official documents the designation of such is given). MV Loch Portain is able to handle Force 7 gales and carry 36 cars and 149 passengers, with a crew of five.^{[citation needed]} The smallest vessel in the fleet is MV Carvoria, built in Shetland for the Kerrera route.^[31] Since June 2020 CalMac leases MV Chieftain from Clyde Marine Services for the Gourock to Kilcreggan service.^[32]

The company is adapting to the demands of the 21st century. MV Lochnevis (2000) was designed for the Small Isles service. MV Bute (2005) and MV Argyle (2007), both built in Gdańsk, are on the Wemyss Bay–Rothesay route. A new "super loch", MV Loch Shira, entered service in 2007 on the Largs–Cumbrae route. MV Hallaig (2013; for Raasay), MV Lochinvar (2013; for Tarbert) and MV Catriona (2015; for Lochranza), built by Ferguson Marine Engineering are pioneering seagoing roll-on roll-off vehicle and passenger diesel-electric hybrid ferries.^[33] In 2022, a Norwegian ferry was purchased for the Mull service; after modification it entered service as MV Loch Frisa.

The first of two dual fuel ferries under construction by Ferguson Marine Engineering, Glen Sannox (for the Arran service)^[34] was launched on 21 November 2017,^[35] handed over in November 2024, and expected to enter service in early 2025.^[22] Repeated delays saw the delivery date of the second, MV Glen Rosa (the second Arran ferry)^[36] slip to May 2025.^[37]

A £91 million contract to build two ferries for the Islay service was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in Turkey in March 2022.^[38][39] The first steel for two ferries was cut at a ceremony in Turkey in October 2022,^[40] with the second vessel's being done in January 2023, in the same week as the first vessel's keel was laid. In May 2023, the same week as the second vessel's keel was laid, it was announced that these ferries would be named MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal.^[41][42] Isle of Islay is expected to be delivered by the first quarter of 2025, with the second vessel following in the second quarter of 2025.^[43] In October 2022 it was announced that two further vessels would be built to a very similar specification as the ferries under construction for Islay. CMAL signed a contract in January 2023 for Cemre Shipyard to also build the two ferries, which would allow a dedicated, peak season services to Tarbert and Lochmaddy from Uig and provide additional resilience in the fleet.^{[44] [45]} The two vessels, MV Claymore and MV Lochmor are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.^[43]

• Transport Scotland
• Caledonian Maritime Assets
• David MacBrayne
• Argyll Ferries

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caledonian MacBrayne.

• CalMac (Official) Corporate Homepage
• Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited - website