Islay haulier urges rethink to fill empty ferry space
An Argyll haulier has called on CalMac to help provide space for an extra “350 cars per week” on the ferry to Islay and Jura, as the MV Finlaggan is due for drydock this month.
Islay haulier B Mundell Ltd photographed an expanse of empty vehicle deck of the MV Isle of Arran, pictured right, departing the island on Thursday May 18.
General operations manager Matthew Mundell said: “It clearly shows the amount of deck space that is not being used due to the vessel being fully freighted (maxed out on weight limit before meterage is met).
“In the 70s, 80s and 90s, despite our equipment being many years older and the ferry ports being a third of the size with poorer infrastructure, the Isle of Arran sailed fully freighted with this space utilised. The vessel ran the same timetable with the same turnaround times, on the same route but carried an additional 14-20 additional cars or an additional unladen 17m CV [commercial vehicle].
“With all the improvements that have been made to ports, equipment and safe working practices, why is CalMac Ferries refusing to reinstate a dropped trailer service on the Isle of Arran immediately using the same safe operating procedures that both CalMac and B Mundell Ltd operated on this mirror service in the 90s? With a stellar safety record.
“When we see the departure of the MV Finlaggan [for a delayed overhaul on June 4], and the ferry capacity once again being significantly compromised, the ferry operator could free up space for an additional 350 car spaces per week or 25 additional unladen 17m CVs on the service by reverting to a dropped trailer procedure on the Isle of Arran vessel.
“B Mundell Ltd and the island community are struggling to understand why CalMac will not re-instate a tried and proven, safe method of moving CVs on the Islay route using the Isle of Arran.”
A CalMac spokeswoman said: “We are currently working with all stakeholders involved to progress with a dropped trailer service trial on MV Isle of Arran.
“Port and vessel risk assessments are complete, and we expect to have the insurance position agreed by June 30. We are awaiting the output from the Systra Traffic Management report, commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, which we are expecting mid-July.”