CalMac pays out £450k to public in one year

Compensation paid to CalMac passengers rose to more than £450,000 last year – as the number of cancelled ferry sailings was said to have reached its highest level for at least five years.

The payments, which can cover meals, accommodation and alternative transport for passengers, rose from £261,000 in 202122 to £454,000 in 2022-23.

That takes the total amount state-owned CalMac has paid in compensation over the last five years to just over £1.1 million.

It comes after the ferry operator cancelled 11,301 journeys in 2022, with a further 5,781 sailings arriving late.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats – who uncovered the statistics using freedom of information – said the data shows it is now a “roll of the dice” whether lifeline ferry services “will be late or cancelled”.

The proportion which did not arrive as planned broke the 10% barrier for the first time, the party said.

It released the figures days after the Scottish Government issued a ministerial directive, allowing work on one of two new CalMac ferries being built at the Ferguson Marine yard on the Clyde to proceed, despite advice that continuing to build the vessel does not represent value for money.

Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said he had taken the “rare” decision to overrule advice, otherwise the future of the shipyard would have been “in jeopardy” and islanders would have to wait longer for a new vessel.

Ferguson Marine is building the Glen Sannox and the as-yetunnamed Hull 802 – now years behind schedule – and costs for the two vessels have risen from £97 million to about £300m.