Commuters faced widespread disruption on Scotland’s ferry services yesterday as several routes were hit by cancellations and delays.
Five services within the CalMac network had to be cancelled due to technical difficulties, with two ferries declared out of action.
The disruption, which came as calls were made to charter freight vessels in a bid to ease pressure on the network, prompted several complaints from commuters on social media.
One customer wrote: “Terrible service from @CalMacFerries Service cancelled from Mull to Oban. No reimbursement and extra costs for additional 5 hour journey. Disgusting.”
While another added: “Appalling service by @CalMacFerries today. Cancelled and the best they can do is suggest we use another company’s service which will drop us 100 miles off. No guarantee of space on that service, no guarantee of refund and rude customer services. Shocking.”
Both the MV Isle of Mull and MV Lord of the Isles suffered technical difficulties, resulting in the disruption to services.
A spokesman for CalMac apologised “for any inconvenience this has caused passengers”.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party in the Western Isles called for immediate action to charter a freight vessel for the Stornoway-Ullapool route.
There is currently only one ferry on the route - MV Loch Seaforth - and prospective parliamentary candidate Alison MacCorquodale claimed that a freight vessel previously used on the route is available to be leased by the Scottish Government.
Ms MacCorquodale said: "It is now beyond dispute that there are freight vessels available in the market, contrary to the assertions by SNP Ministers.
“There are very serious concerns about what the winter holds, particularly with the Loch Seaforth’s annual visit to dry dock coming up.”
The Scottish Government last week leased a freight vessel for use in the Northern Isles and Ms MacCorquodale believes the same should be done in the Western Isles.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland
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