Calmac carries more passengers but sees profits drop
DESPITE a summer of disruption on many of its services, the parent company of Calmac Ferries has reported another year of increasing passenger numbers – but plummeting profits because of the soaring repairs and maintenance bill of its ageing fleet.
The Scottish Government is facing calls for “urgent” investment in Calmac ferries after figures revealed that more than 120 repairs have been made to the fleet since 2016.
Scottish Government data, obtained under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation, showed there had been 125 repairs made to 31 vessels in the last two years.
Among the problems were faults with diesel engines, power generators, propellers and ramps.
Earlier this year £3.5million was put into a “resilience fund” to reduce the risk of vessels breaking down.
But figures yesterday showed total carryings for the David Macbrayne group broke through the 5.5 million barrier in 2017/18.
It also emerged taxpayers paid over £8m more to run Calmac last year.
The Scottish Government subsidy to the state-run company soared from £128.3m to £136.8m. The main reasons were the start of the new Oban-kerrera route, contract alterations, increased harbour dues and staff costs.
Calmac Ferries’ passenger numbers jumped by more than 200,000 over the year to 5.3m.
The group’s other ferry operator, Argyll Ferries, carried nearly 300,000 on the Gourock to Dunoon route over the same period. Vehicle traffic increased 5% to 1.4m while freight increased 1.4% to 940,000 metres carried over the same period.
Revenues climbed £15m to £210m, delivering a profit of £4m for the year, down from £5.3m last year.
The company admitted the drop in profit was down to increased costs in “planned and unplanned vessel maintenance”.
“The focus of the past year has been to continue putting customers and communities at the heart of what we do and using our services and influence to actively drive sustainability and economic growth,” said chairman David Mcgibbon.
“We are continuing to work to improve communication with all our customers including the launch of a new Integrated Operations Communications Centre.”
A major highlight was winning the contract to operate Perth harbour.