What a farce

Sir, Your article on the new ferry, together with the letters’ page, made interesting reading last week.

Following that came the failure of the Caledonian Isles to sail for most of Friday, and the apparently mixed messages issued about the likelihood or otherwise of any service that day, and one can only say: ‘What a farce!’

Little seems to be said in favour of the new terminal at Brodick, while the continuing problem of berthing in Ardrossan remains unaddressed by port authorities, and, indeed, CalMac, whose new ship for the service is even bigger than the present one, and which may find entering Ardrossan harbour even more problematic.

Will this new larger ferry also have to take refuge overnight in Brodick every time winds gust above 30 knots, which is hardly exceptionally strong? It looks as though Arran will continue to be served by ships and ports, not to mention a ferry operator, which are not fit for the purpose.

And its coming into service will be delayed by mistakes/problems while it was being built – yet more incompetence.

I understand that much is being made of the new environmentally friendly feeling of the new ferry, but I have read that there is no facility in Scotland to provide/produce this new fuel, so there will be more air pollution involved in road tankers bring the fuel to Ardrossan.

Yours, Douglas Hamilton, Lamlash.