Scotland's 'lifeline' ferry service awarded directly to CalMac

The Scottish Government is to directly award a “lifeline” ferry service contract to the publicly-owned operator CalMac.

The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract connects island and remote communities off the west coast of Scotland with the mainland.

“I am pleased to announce that Scottish ministers have confirmed that a direct award of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract should be made to CalMac Ferries Limited,” transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said on Thursday.

The award comes after CalMac announced further delays to the return to service of for both the MV Caledonian Isles and the MV Hebrides.

However, the Scottish Government has said it “fully expects” the latest service award to be a “catalyst for positive change” across the ferry network.

Hyslop said she expects the service to be “based on a more efficient, flexible model of delivery that fully reflects community interests”.

“Discussions will continue with staff, island residents, businesses and communities and trade unions on the arrangements to ensure the services can best meet local needs and wants,” Hyslop said.

According to the Scottish Government, this direct award “fundamentally changes the ethos of the service” by shifting from a commercial arrangement to a model more focused on the delivery of a public service.

The new contract includes improvements for the ferry service.

Hyslop said those improvement include a new Benefits Realisation Plan, new and revised Key Performance Indicators, enhanced monitoring and reporting, greater regionalisation through dedicated area managers and increased stakeholder engagement.

“Alongside our ongoing investment in infrastructure and an additional twelve new vessels for the network this will improve the overall resilience and capacity of these services, as set out in the recently published Islands Connectivity Plan,” Hyslop said.

“Transport Scotland is now working closely with CalMac Ferries Limited on the necessary arrangements for the commencement of the new contract on October 1, 2025.”