Ferry Services
Overview
Transport Scotland is responsible for several different ferry services. This page looks at the subsidised routes and the contractors undertaking them.
Clyde and Hebrides
Transport Scotland works alongside our partners CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) to bring you the vital ferry services serving the West coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary.
CalMac Ferries Ltd provide the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services under tendered contract with Scottish Ministers. You can read about the plan for the future of these services in the Scottish Ferries Plan 2013-2022.
The contract for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services runs from 2016 until 2024:
CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, which is wholly owned by Scottish Ministers.
For information on Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) please visit their website.
Contracts and evaluations
On 17 February 2015, the Contract Notice was submitted to the Official Journal of the European Union, signalling the Scottish Government’s intention to take forward a competition that will see a contract awarded at the end of May 2016 for the provision of the services from October 2016.
The service is regularly evaluated. Read the results of those evaluations below:
- AMFC process evaluation Mallaig report March 2016 Undertaken by Why Research
- AMFC monitoring evaluation Campbeltown March 2016 Undertaken by Vector Research with JMP Consultants
Northern Isles
The Scottish Government subsidise the year round passenger, vehicle and freight ferry service from the mainland to Orkney and Shetland via the Northern Isles Ferry Services Contract.
Northern Isles ferry services (NIFS) contracts:
- NIFS3 - 8 years (30 June 2020 to 30 June 2028). View the contract.
Operator - Serco NorthLink Ferries
Areas served - Ferry services between (a) Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick and (b) Scrabster and Stromness.
Value: The value of the contract, based on the full-life duration of eight-years is worth £349,645,798 exclusive of VAT.
- NIFS2 - 6 years (July 2012 to April 2018). View the contract.
This contract was extended to ensure continuity of services during the procurement process of the new Northern Isles Ferry Services contract that commenced 30 June 2020.
Operator - Serco NorthLink Ferries
Areas served - Ferry services between (a) Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick and (b) Scrabster and Stromness.
- In 2019, the Scottish Government commissioned an Action Plan to help improve the performance of our ferry services
- You can read about the plan for the future of our ferry services in the Scottish Ferries Plan 2013-2022
- Transport Scotland work alongside Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) who own the ferries serving the Northern Isles. CMAL are wholly owned by the Scottish Government with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.
Non-Subsidised Ferry Services
The following links provide information about major ferry services which are not funded by the Scottish Government:
- Orkney Islands Council
- Shetland Islands Council
- Highland Council
- Western Ferries
- Argyll & Bute Council
- Pentland Ferries
There are also a number of privately owned operators who provide local ferry services throughout the Highlands and Islands.
Local Authority Ferries Replacement Task Forces
In December 2022, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery committed to setting up Task Forces to discuss how Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council could progress proposals for the long term renewal of their ferry fleets. Minutes of Task Force meetings and other relevant documents will be posted here with the agreement of these local authorities.
Minutes of Task Force meetings
Terms of reference and remits
Ferries Unit engagement
Ferries provide a vital lifeline to our valued island and rural mainland residents and help to support thriving business and employment opportunities on the islands. The lifeline services on the Clyde and Hebrides network, the Northern Isles network and the Gourock – Dunoon service are provided under Public Service Contracts.
Transport Scotland’s Ferries Unit is responsible for overarching ferries policy, the procurement of the Public Service Contracts, contract management of these contracts and policy on future vessel and infrastructure investment. The Public Service Contracts specify the routes and timetables which the operator is required to provide, as well as the fares which apply.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) is a public body wholly owned by Scottish Ministers. It owns the ferries, ports and harbours and infrastructure necessary for vital ferry services serving the West coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary. It procures and owns the vessels, which are funded by the Scottish Government and owns and maintains 22 harbours. It leases the vessels to the ferry operator for use under the Public Service Contracts, which is mostly, but not wholly, under the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract. The operators of the Public Service Contracts, CalMac Ferries Ltd, Serco NorthLink Ferries and Argyll Ferries Ltd, deliver the ferry services to the islands. They are responsible for local consultation on various matters, such as timetables, with local communities, reporting back to Transport Scotland.
CMAL is also classified as a public corporation and subject to the governance arrangements applied to Scottish public bodies. These are set out in a Management Statement and Financial Memorandum.
Consequently Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, is actively engaged in a number of groupings with a range of key stakeholders to ensure that these ferry services are managed and developed in a way that is consistent with those aims.
In carrying out its various functions, Transport Scotland engages formally with different groups. A list of these groups and their membership is set out below. This list is not exhaustive and Transport Scotland engage with many other groups on an ad hoc basis.
Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services
| Name | Frequency | Membership | Purpose of Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardrossan – Brodick Taskforce | Variable |
|
To ensure improvement of the operational effectiveness of the Ardrossan facility in supporting the lifeline ferry services and the new vessel on the Arran route. |
| Argyll Ferry Infrastructure Group | Bi-monthly |
|
To ensure that vessels and infrastructure are suitable and sustainable. To take forward specific infrastructure projects, starting with those for Iona, Islay and Mull. To act as the project steering group for the Craignure harbour project led by A&BC To share information and co-ordinate communications with communities and other stakeholders. |
| The Craignure Infrastructure Liaison Group | 6 monthly |
|
To provide a forum for consultation and communication regarding how the new Craignure pier is planned, designed and built.
|
| Ferry Stakeholder Groups (FSG’s): Clyde, Argyll and Hebrides | 6 Monthly |
|
To provide a forum for engagement between the CHFS operator and elected members and other stakeholders at a regional level. To facilitate communication and engagement between the parties on a range of ferries issues. |
| The Islands Transport Forum
|
Twice a year |
|
Improving collaboration between Transport Scotland, RTPs and islands councils and ensuring clarity with regard to roles; Establishing a process that fully accounts for island-specific view; Ensuring efficient and effective lines of communication between all key stakeholders to facilitate improved consultation and engagement. |
| Mallaig – Armadale Infrastructure Working Group | Variable |
|
To develop options and proposals for the medium and long-term provision of appropriate vessel and shoreside infrastructure on the Mallaig to Armadale route to accommodate forecast growth and provide operational resilience. |
| Outer Hebrides Implementation Group | To be determined |
|
To Consider and promote options for the long-term provision of ferry services to, from and within the Outer Hebrides. |
| RET Evaluation Research Advisory Group
|
Variable |
|
The RAG involves stakeholders in the delivery of the project and provides the opportunity for them to inform the research, drawing upon their expertise and knowledge.
|
| Network Strategy Programme Steering Group | Every 6 weeks |
|
To develop advice for Ministers on a programme of vessel replacements, deployments and disposals in support of: the delivery of the Ferries Plan, the on-going renewal of the fleet and responding to forecast demand across the network in an objective and transparent way. To produce and consult on drafts of the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan annual reports. To act as the programme board in overseeing delivery of vessel and port projects through individual project boards and steering groups. |
Northern Isles Ferry Services
| Name | Frequency | Membership | Purpose of Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Isles Consultative Forum | Variable |
|
To provide a forum for engagement on issues facing the local transport network including the Northern Isles Ferry Service |
| Orkney & Shetland Internal Ferries Working Group | Variable |
|
To oversee work to inform future decisions on funding and responsibility for internal ferry services following Ministerial commitment to fair funding in the Empowering Scotland's Islands Communities prospectus. |
| Shetland External Transport Forum | Quarterly |
|
To provide a forum for engagement on issues facing external transport including the Northern Isles Ferry Service |
| Stewart Building Group | Quarterly |
|
To provide a forum for engagement on strategic issues facing Shetland's seafood sector.
|
| Orkney Travel & Transport Forum | Variable |
|
To provide a forum for engagement on issues facing the local transport network including the Northern Isles Ferry Service |
| Caithness Transport Forum | Quarterly |
|
To provide a forum for engagement on issues facing the local transport network including the Northern Isles Ferry Service |
Audit Scotland - Transport Scotland's Ferry Services
Audit Scotland published Transport Scotland’s ferry services on 19 October 2017. We welcomed the report and are working to implement its recommendations.
PAPLS committee session
Related documents
- View Audit Scotland - Ferries Plan Annex - 29 January 2018.pdf
- View Ferries Long-term Strategy – Proposed Structure.pdf
- View Transport Scotland letter to Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee - 29 January 2018.pdf
- View Transport Scotland's Ferry Services - breifing paper to Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee - 20 November 2017.pdf