Pentland Ferries has announced today that it has signed an agreement with CalMac
Ferries to extend the charter of the vessel MV Alfred for an additional five months.
MV Alfred will provide additional support within the Clyde and Hebrides network until
the end of October.
CalMac was due to return the Alfred to Pentland Ferries when the beleaguered MV Caledonian
Isles was eventually repaired. The Alfred’s return date was latterly set at 30 May
which was continued after it became clear the Caledonian Isles required further work.
Now a formal charter extension will ensure the Alfred is retained for breakdown cover
this summer.
Helen Inkster, managing director of Pentland Ferries, stated: “I am pleased to confirm
that we have signed an agreement with CalMac Ferries to extend the charter of MV
Alfred until the end of October 2025.”
She added: “We look forward to continuing our partnership with CalMac Ferries and
serving the island communities in both Orkney and the west of Scotland.”
The Scottish Government through its Transport Scotland division is expected to provide
a multi-million pound contribution to CalMac towards the Alfred’s charter extension.
CalMac did not go into details over why it has now decided to hire the vessel for
the whole of the summer season.
However, the shipping company’s decision will be influenced by shipbuilding delays
postponing the arrival of desperately needed new vessels amid a number of recent
incidents diminishing an already breakdown prone aging fleet, internal awareness
of potential deficiencies among ferries, and booming ticket sales indicating a strong
travel demand and a hugely busy summer.
CalMac’s fleet has not increased in number despite the introduction of MV Glen Sannox
as the much-loved MV Hebridean Isles was withdrawn for scrapping due to prohibitively
expensive costs to upgrade her to a safe legal standard.
Amongst the communities feeling the pain is Campbeltown as the crossing with Ardrossan
is cancelled for a third summer in a row because of the lack of an available vessel
to deliver the service.
Louis de Wolff, interim Fleet Management Director for CalMac, said: “The extension
to MV Alfred’s charter will give the network much-needed resilience until the end
of the summer timetable.”
Meanwhile, MV Caledonian Isles is finally expected to return to service on the main
Arran route, Ardrossan to Brodick, on Thursday 12 June following yet another delay
The vessel, which has been undergoing extensive repairs since January 2024, will
entered dry dock this week for the final stages of work.
Following a phased return, she will pick up full service of five returns a day from
Ardrossan on Saturday 14 June except Fridays (six returns) and Sundays (four returns).
A two-vessel service with MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred will remain in place between
Troon and Brodick until the end of Wednesday 11 June, with Glen Sannox remaining
on this route following this date.
CalMac keep MV Alfred for another five months after signing extended charter agreement
with Pentland Ferries
3 June 2025
