CalMac Archives - Am Paipear

Royal honour for Lochmaddy port assistant

July 13, 2016

John MacDonald – a CalMac port assistant at Lochmaddy – was invited to join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at an exclusive gathering last week.

In recognition of his work to bring together an archive of David MacBrayne artefacts and memorabilia, John was nominated to join a group of just 30 people from across Scotland for a private reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spent plenty of time with the small gathering, chatting to all the invitees and hearing about the various items of interest which they have individually achieved.

“I spoke to both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh individually,” said John.

“The Queen was very nice and interested in what I had done. The Duke of Edinburgh was very chatty and had a great sense of humour.

“It was a real surprise – I hadn’t known anything about it until about a week before. The day I got home to find the invitation – which is now part of the exhibition at the port office – I felt honoured and really proud that the archive and exhibition had caught someone’s attention to the extent that they nominated me as a CalMac representative.

“It was a real day to remember and I’m humbled to have had the opportunity.”

Sadly, because it was a private reception, no photography was allowed, but John has put the invitation on display with the other artefacts and he has memories which he treasures and will now live on.

John has worked for CalMac for 10 years, but his interest in the company began years before and has seen him amassing this special collection over more than two decades. He gathers the items from far and wide, including junk shops and book shops, as well as the likes of eBay. But his collecting is also well-known on the islands and further afield and he is often offered pieces directly from an owner who would like to see them cared for.

The items on display represent just a small fraction of the objects he has brought together over the years and, since the exhibition began last year, he has added to the display regularly to show more artefacts and to keep people coming back. John also showed some of his collection at Taigh Chearsabhagh, the museum and arts centre based in Lochmaddy, where it was well-received.

Allan delighted as CalMac wins ferries contract

May 19, 2016

Alasdair Allan MSP has warmly welcomed the announcement that Calmac has been awarded preferred bidder status for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

The next contract will run from 1st October 2016 for a duration of up to eight years. The Scottish Government will provide £900 million of support to these lifeline services and continue the application of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) across the network.

Alasdair Allan commented: “I am absolutely delighted that CalMac has been awarded preferred bidder status for the contract to serve these islands. The clear preference of island communities was for Calmac to retain the contract and that is something I and many others conveyed to the government.

“While none of us would have volunteered for this process to happen, it was vital that the Scottish Government complied with the law in order to safeguard the recover levels of investment that have been put into our ferry services.

“It is encouraging to see that a company with such a long record if serving the islands as CalMac has been able to make a robust bid and that the services will remain under public control.

“I believe the new contract will lead to further improvements in the ferry services that are so crucial to the economy and quality of life on these islands and I look forward to working with CalMac in the months and years ahead.”

CalMac wins ferries contract

May 19, 2016

CalMac has won a new £900m contract to remain as operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferries Network.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that CalMac is the preferred tenderer for the next contract to operate the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) this morning.

Serco Caledonian Ferries also submitted a bid for the lucrative contract.

CalMac’s bid makes almost 350 commitments to improve the service, aiming to help drive economic growth, improve customer service and make sure the company delivers value for money.

Proposals include:

£6 million investment in vessel and port improvements
The introduction of smart and integrated ticketing systems on key routes
Increase passenger/vehicle traffic by 10% and commercial traffic by 12% over the course of the contract
Providing more opportunities for local employment, including more apprenticeships
The creation of a new Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement post and a Communities Board to better involve communities in investment and services decisions
Retaining its head office in Gourock and maintaining its status as a Living Wage employer
All existing routes and services will continue to operate as they do now

In addition to these headline proposals, CalMac has committed to retaining the CalMac pension scheme and a policy of no compulsory redundancies.

The tender price for the next contract is around £900 million for eight years from 1st October 2016.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I’m very pleased to announce CalMac as our preferred bidder for the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

“CalMac have a long and proud tradition of running the Clyde and Hebrides routes, and the company is woven into the fabric of the communities they serve.

“Their tender offers a good deal for those communities served by these vital transport links and ensures that we can maximise the opportunities to support and nurture our island economies.

“CalMac will better manage demand to drive an increase in traffic, as well as make the ferry services more attractive with the introduction of smart ticketing on key routes.

“The Scottish Government has made a clear commitment to our ferry services, investing a record £1 billion in port infrastructure, vessels and services since 2007.

“Scottish Ministers will retain control of all of important issues, such as fares and timetables, through the public service contract. Vessels and port infrastructure will also remain publicly owned as they are now.

“This new contract looks to make further improvements our ferry services, and I look forward to CalMac starting the new contract later this year.”

Safety evacuation system upgrade for MV Loch Portain

February 10, 2016

MV Loch Portain in dry dock.

A new-state-of-the-art life saving system is being fitted to MV Loch Portain during its annual refit this year.

The new Maritime Evacuation System (MES) will be obvious to regular passengers as it is located on the passenger deck rather than car deck.

The new equipment will significantly speed up the vessel’s evacuation in the event of an emergency.

CalMac’s director of operations, Drew Collier said: “Safety is our number one priority and we are anxious to fit the most up to date safety equipment on the market within our vessels. This new MES system can give passengers and crew the reassurances that they can rely on the most technically advanced system available in the unlikely event of an emergency.”

Alongside the safety upgrade and general servicing and the Loch Portain is also being fitted with a new passenger lift from the car deck to the upper decks improving accessibility throughout the vessel. The work is being carried out at Cammell Laird in Liverpool.

MV Loch Bhrusda is filling in for the vessel on its regular Berneray to Leverburgh route until its return to service at the end of February.

The replacement vessel has a smaller vehicle capacity and although the crossing is less busy at this time of year, passengers are urged to book well ahead if possible.

“The winter annual refit period is always a challenge for us as we do not have like-for-like replacements for every ship and we have to find a way of maintaining services with the resources available to us,” added Mr Collier.

“The upgrade work to the Loch Portain means it is off-route longer than usual and we thank people for their patience while this improvement work is done. I’m sure passengers will notice a difference to their sailing experience particularly with the new lift being installed when the vessel returns.”

Check sailing availability on the route at www.calmac.co.uk

CalMac comments on impending strike action

June 17, 2015

Commenting on the announcement of industrial action by RMT union members working for CalMac, scheduled for next week, a CalMac spokesman said: “We are aware of the latest announcement from the RMT and are very conscious of the reliance placed on our ferry services by the communities we serve and visitors to the area.

“We have scheduled discussions with our trade unions to take place on Thursday this week at which we will discuss their concerns”

CalMac industrial action to commence next week

June 17, 2015

CalMac union RMT has confirmed a schedule of industrial action set to star next week.

The union warned this weekend that the‎ Clyde and Hebrides service is being set up for takeover by the profiteering private company Serco, which, along with Caledonian MacBrayne, is in the running to provide this essential lifeline service to the west coast islands.

RMT members have voted by well over 90% for action in a ballot that covers both strikes and action short of strikes. The action confirmed today is as follows:

Members will be instructed to take strike action as follows:-

• If the ship is in port then my members will be instructed not to ‘turn to’ (book on) for any duty that commences between 00:01 hours and 23:59 hours on Friday 26th June 2015.

This action is intended to be discontinuous.

Furthermore members will be instructed to take discontinuous industrial action in the form of an overtime and call back ban between:-

• 00:01 hours on Wednesday 24th June and 23:59 hours on Thursday 25th June 2015.

RMT continues to demand the assurances that staff are rightly demanding in their fight for workplace justice while the billion pound contracting process is kicked around behind closed doors.

General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members on CalMac rightly feel that they are caught in the crossfire of an unnecessary and damaging tendering battle that leaves jobs, conditions and pensions hanging by a thread. That is simply intolerable.

“As a result of the failure to give staff the most basic assurances we are now using the massive mandate secured in the ballot and confirming a programme of industrial action.

“RMT wants cast iron assurances and we want them now and we are prepar‎ed to engage in meaningful talks around that agenda as we prepare for the first phase of industrial action.”

Stewart raises CalMac strike action with Transport Minister

June 16, 2015

David Stewart MSP

Shadow Transport Minister, David Stewart MSP this morning quizzed the Scottish Government on how it plans to respond to the concerns of the CalMac workforce, who recently balloted for strike action.

Last week members of the RMT Union voted overwhelmingly for both strike action and action short of a strike in a ballot over jobs, pensions and working conditions.

The vote conducted by the union revealed over 92% voted for strike action and 98% for action short of a strike on a 60% turnout. 55% of the total number eligible to vote voted yes for strike action and 58% of total eligible voted yes for action short of a strike.

Mr Stewart expressed his concern to the Minister saying: “90% of those who voted backed calls for industrial action and I have genuine and heartfelt sympathy for the workers involved, the Scottish Government owe it to these workers to resolve this dispute.”

He continued: “Does the Scottish Government share the view of the RMT general secretary Mick Cash who said: ‘RMT members on CalMac rightly feel that they are caught in the crossfire of an unnecessary and damaging tendering battle that leaves jobs, conditions and pensions hanging by a thread.’? Surely the Scottish Government has learnt from the fiasco of the Northern Isles ferry routes, where Serco cut crossings and axed jobs.”

Speaking after the exchange Mr Stewart said: “The results of the RMT strike action ballot was overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action, something everyone involved would like to see adverted if possible. This is a crucial issue and the Scottish Government can not stand on the side-lines.

“The Scottish Government need to respond clearly and quickly to address this deteriorating situation to not only secure jobs, condition, pay and pensions for the Cal Mac workforce, but also to address the concerns of many islanders rightly worried about the continuity of lifeline ferry services for our islands and also the concerns being expressed by the business community who rely on these vital ferry services.”

Serco and CalMac invited to bid for ferries contract

June 10, 2015

Two operators have been invited to take part in the next stage of the tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract, Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay has announced.

CalMac Ferries Limited and Serco Caledonian Ferries Limited have both passed the pre-qualification stage of the process and will be invited to submit tenders for the next CHFS contract, which will run from 1st October 2016 for a duration of up to eight years.

Both operators will, today, be given access to copies of the draft Invitation To Tender (ITT) documentation, which will then formally be issued to them on the 10th July 2015.

The invitation for both operators to submit a final tender is scheduled for December 2015, with a view to awarding the contract in May 2016.

Mr Mackay said: “This is another significant step forward for the tender process and moves us closer to awarding the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

“The award of this contract will be an incredibly important moment for the island communities served by these lifeline ferry services. The Scottish Government will provide up to £1bn of funding to support the enhancement and development of these services, in addition to fares revenue. It will also ensure that Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) continues to be applied on CHFS routes, bringing significantly reduced fares for passengers, cars, small commercial vehicles and coaches and helping to support local communities and the tourist industry.

“These ferry services play a crucial role in enabling continued and sustainable economic growth for the Islands. We are committed to delivering the very best deal for all of the communities of the Clyde and Hebrides.”

CalMac looking at ways to minimise Sound of Harris disruption

June 9, 2015

CalMac has said it is looking at a range of options to minimise disruption while Sound of Harris ferry MV Loch Portain is away for a week for maintenance work.

Angus MacNeil MP had earlier raised that passengers were unable to book on the Berneray-Harris service after 13th June (click here for details).

However, a CalMac spokesperson explained: “MV Loch Portain is now subject to a more stringent legislative regime that requires us to update certain safety systems. This means it will be off the Berneray-Leverburgh route for one week from 13th June and will be replaced by the MV Loch Bhrusda.

“This is a slightly smaller vessel, so to provide a seamless service and avoid any potential disruption, we are looking at ways of enhancing this service temporarily to cope with anticipated demand.

“This may include extra daily sailings on the crossing or involve the MV Isle of Lewis running an additional daily service between Tarbert and Lochmaddy.

“We will keep customers fully updated once final cover arrangements for the route have been made.”

MacNeil writes to CalMac to clarify Sound of Harris situation

June 9, 2015

Angus Brendan MacNeil MP has written to Martin Dorchester, Managing Director of Caledonian MacBrayne, to ask for clarification surrounding the Sound of Harris ferry.

Mr MacNeil has been contacted by a constituent who has been unable to make a booking on the Sound of Harris route from Saturday 13th June.

Commenting Mr MacNeil said: “CalMac is currently not accepting bookings for the Berneray to Leverburgh route. Having checked the CalMac website, all sailings on the Sound of Harris route are listed as ‘not available’ from Saturday 13th June.

“No other information is given on the website, however, I have been told that this may be due to a temporary change in vessel, in the meantime people are being left ‘high and dry’.

“This route is often subject to tidal restrictions which reduces the number of sailings, CalMac need to clarify why they are not accepting bookings and they must also ensure that any changes to the vessel does not lead to a further reduction in the carrying capacity.

“I am also writing to MCA to ask if they have added further restrictions to the Sound of Harris and if so why.”