Compensation payments to passengers by Scotland's publicly-owned ferry operator CalMac have risen sharply, with payouts averaging over £50,000 per month during spring and early summer 2022. The operator paid £215,000 in disruption claims between April and July 2022, compared to £261,000 for the entire previous year.
CalMac attributed the increase to a simplified claims process and better promotion of passenger rights. Most compensation over the past five years—£636,000—covered meals and accommodation for disrupted passengers, according to figures obtained by Scottish Labour under freedom of information laws.
The ferry fleet faces challenges: a third of CalMac's vessels are over 30 years old, and nearly half the largest ships are beyond their expected service life. However, Transport Scotland stated that the majority of cancellations are due to adverse weather conditions.
Islanders have criticised service cancellations affecting supply deliveries, and a Holyrood consultation last month described ferry provision for Scotland's island communities as 'well below' reasonable levels. Two new ferries being built in Port Glasgow have faced serious delays, with the first, Glen Sannox, due for delivery five years late in spring 2023. Contracts for four other large ferries have been awarded to a Turkish shipyard, but delivery is not expected until late 2024.
Scottish Labour islands spokeswoman Rhoda Grant said: 'These spiralling costs expose what a mess the SNP have made of lifeline ferry services in Scotland. Our ferry fleet has been left to rust because of years of failed planning... Now islanders are stuck with chaos, cancellations and delays while taxpayers foot the bill.'
A CalMac spokesperson said: 'We would always encourage passengers who are entitled to compensation to make a claim... During 2022 we improved the process for making claims.' Transport Scotland added that ship masters decide on sailing safety and that the Scottish government has invested over £2bn in ferry services since 2007.
