Caledonian MacBrayne
439447
225073662
2008-07-11T19:25:50Z
Dave souza
85186
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225044078 by [[Special:Contributions/79.67.61.54|79.67.61.54]] ([[User talk:79.67.61.54|talk]]) keep clarification
{{Infobox Company
| name = Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd
| logo =
| slogan =
| type = [[Public Company|Public]] ([[Government-owned corporation|State-Owned]])
| genre =
| foundation = 1851
| founder =
| location_city =
| location_country =
| location = [[Gourock]], [[Scotland]]
| locations =
| area_served = [[River Clyde]], [[Outer Hebrides]], [[Inner Hebrides]]<br>[[Ballycastle]], [[Northern Ireland]]
| key_people =
| industry = [[Transport]]
| products =
| services = [[Ferries]]
| market cap =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner = [[Scottish Government]]
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid = [[Northlink Ferries]](50%)
| homepage = http://www.calmac.co.uk/
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
[[Image:MV Juno funnel.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The funnel of MV ''Juno''.]]
'''Caledonian MacBrayne''' (usually shortened to '''Cal Mac'''; '''Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn''' in [[Scottish Gaelic]]) is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries between the mainland of [[Scotland]] and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast. It is [[Government-owned corporation|publicly owned]] and controlled by the [[Scottish Government]].
==History==
[[Image:Cal-Mac HQ2005.jpg|thumb|The Caledonian MacBrayne headquarters building at [[Gourock]] pierhead and a visit from [[MV Caledonian Isles|MV ''Caledonian Isles'']] and [[MV Isle of Mull|MV ''Isle of Mull'']].]]
MacBrayne's, initially known as David Hutcheson & Co., began in 1851 as a private steamship operator when [[Sir George Burns, 1st Baronet|G. and J. Burns]], operators of the largest of the Clyde fleets, decided to concentrate on coastal and transatlantic services and handed control of their river and Highland steamers to a new company in which Hutcheson, their manager of these services, became senior partner. Their main route went from [[Glasgow]] down the [[Firth of Clyde]] through the [[Crinan Canal]] to [[Oban]] and [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]], and on through the [[Caledonian Canal]] to [[Inverness]]. With the retirement of its founders in the 1870s, their partner (and nephew of Messrs. Burns) David MacBrayne gained full ownership, and changed the company's name accordingly. It remained in the hands of the MacBrayne family until 1928 when, unable to carry on, it was acquired jointly by the LMS Railway and Coast Lines. Its ships featured red funnels with a black top.
The [[Caledonian Railway]] at first used the services of various early private operators of [[Clyde steamer]]s, then began operating steamers on its own account on [[1 January]] [[1889]] to compete better with the [[North British Railway]] and the [[Glasgow and South Western Railway]]. It extended its line to bypass the G & SW ''Prince's Pier'' at [[Greenock]] and continue on to the fishing village of [[Gourock]], where they had purchased the harbour. After years of fierce competition between all the fleets, the Caledonian and G & SW were merged in 1923 into the [[LMS]] and their fleets amalgamated into the '''Caledonian Steam Packet Co.''', their funnels being painted yellow with a black top. At the same time the North British Railway fleet became part of the [[LNER]] (which built the [[PS Waverley|''Waverley'']] in 1947). With nationalisation in 1948 the LMS and LNER fleets were amalgamated under [[British Railways]] with the name ''Clyde Shipping Services''. In 1957 a reorganisation restored the CSP name, and in 1965 a red lion was added to each side of the black-topped yellow funnels. The headquarters remained at Gourock pierhead.
At the end of December 1968 management of the CSP passed to the [[Scottish Transport Group]], which gained control of MacBrayne's the following June. The MacBrayne service from Gourock to [[Ardrishaig]] ended on [[30 September]] [[1969]], leaving the Clyde entirely to the CSP.
[[Image:MV Juno 10 2 2006.jpg|thumb|MV ''Juno'' (''Iùno'' in [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]]) arriving at Gourock on the Dunoon service]]
On [[1 January]] [[1973]] the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. acquired most of the ships and routes of MacBrayne's and commenced joint Clyde and West Highland operations under the new name of Caledonian MacBrayne, with a combined headquarters at Gourock. Funnels were now painted red with a black top, and a yellow circle at the side of the funnel featuring the red Caledonian lion. In 1990 the ferry business was spun off as a separate company, keeping the Caledonian MacBrayne brand, and shares were issued in the company. All shares were owned by the state, first in the person of the [[Secretary of State for Scotland]], and (after [[devolution]]) by the Scottish Executive.
A joint venture between Caledonian MacBrayne and the [[Royal Bank of Scotland]] named ''Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries'' won the tender for the subsidised [[Northern Isles]] services, previously run by [[P&O Scottish Ferries]], commencing in 2002. The ambitious programme ran into financial difficulties, and the service was again put out to tender. Caledonian MacBrayne won this tender, and formed a separate company called [[Northlink Ferries|NorthLink Ferries Limited]] which began operating the Northern Isles ferry service on [[6 July]] [[2006]].<ref name=spice>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-07/SB07-56.pdf |title=Ferry Services in Scotland |accessdate=2007-11-17 |author=Alan Rehfisch |date=2007 |format= pdf |work=SPICe Briefing |publisher=Scottish Parliament Information Centre}}</ref>
To meet the requirements of [[European Union]] Community guidelines on State aids to maritime transport, the company's routes were put out to open tender. To enable competitive bidding on an equal basis, Caledonian MacBrayne was split into two separate companies on [[1 October]] [[2006]]. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) retained ownership of CalMac vessels and infrastructure, including harbours, while CalMac Ferries Ltd submitted tenders to be the ferry operator. Their bid for the main bundle, ''Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services'', succeeded and on [[1 October]] [[2007]] CalMac Ferries Ltd began operating these services on a six year contract. The [[Gourock]] to [[Dunoon]] service was the subject of a separate tender, but no formal bids were made. In an interim arrangement CalMac Ferries Ltd continues to provide a subsidised service on this route.<ref name=spice/><ref name=beeb>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7003837.stm |title=BBC NEWS : Scotland : Highlands and Islands : CalMac ferry contract confirmed |accessdate=2007-11-17 |date=2007-09-20 }}</ref>
==Current fleet==
{{main|Caledonian MacBrayne fleet}}
Calmac has 29 vessels in current service.<!-- ? +2 or has anything been retired? --> There are 8 'major units' - ships of 80 m or more in length. The largest ship is the [[MV Isle of Lewis|MV ''Isle of Lewis'']] at 101 m in length. The others are [[MV Clansman|MV ''Clansman'']], [[MV Hebrides|MV ''Hebrides'']], [[MV Caledonian Isles|MV ''Caledonian Isles'']], [[MV Isle of Mull|MV ''Isle of Mull'']], [[MV Hebridean Isles|MV ''Hebridean Isles'']], [[MV Isle of Arran|MV ''Isle of Arran'']] and [[MV Lord of the Isles|MV ''Lord of the Isles'']].
There are 13 'Loch Class' vessels in the company, in different shapes and sizes. These are double-ended ferries with no operational bow or stern (although in official documents the designation of such is given). They are usually symmetrical in shape when viewed from the side.
Calmac's smallest vessels are the 22.5 m 'Island Class' ships. They were built as the predecessors to the 'Loch Class' and are now slowly being taken out of service. Only three of the original 8 remain in the fleet.
The company is adapting to the demands of 21st century. In 2007 [[MV Bute|MV ''Bute'']] (built in 2005 in Gdansk, Poland) was joined on the [[Wemyss Bay]] / [[Rothesay, Argyll and Bute|Rothesay]] route by an almost identical sister, [[MV Argyle|MV ''Argyle'']]. A new "super loch", [[MV Loch Shira|MV ''Loch Shira'']] was built for the [[Largs]] / [[Cumbrae]] route, entering service in 2007. A new vessel is expected on the Islay service in Spring 2011. This has been ordered from the Remontowa Yard in Gdansk, Poland for £24.5 million. The new vessel will be 89.90m long and capable of 16.5 knots. The vessel is designed to carry 550 passengers, up to 88 cars, as well as coaches, cars and commercial vehicles. The vessel will also be capable of carrying dangerous goods.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/ships_timeline.asp| title=History of the Fleet| publisher=Ships of the Clyde.co.uk| accessdate=2007-08-29}}</ref>
==Business==
The company enjoys a de-facto monopoly on the shipment of freight and vehicles to the islands, and competes for passenger traffic with number of aircraft services of varying quality and reliability. Nonetheless, few if any of the routes currently operated by Cal-Mac are profitable, and the company receives significant government subsidies due to its vital role in supplying the islands - these routes are classified as "lifeline" services. In 1996 Cal-Mac opened its first route outwith Scotland, winning a ten year contract to provide a lifeline service to [[Rathlin Island]] in [[Northern Ireland]].
Various versions of a local poem refer to MacBrayne's long dominance of Hebridean sailings:
''The Earth belongs unto the Lord''<br>
''And all that it contains''<br>
''Except the Kyles and the Western Isles''<br>
''And they are all MacBrayne's''
Several groups have proposed privatising the service, and there has been a long commercial and political struggle with a privately owned company, [[Western Ferries]], who have run a rival, unsubsidised service from [[Gourock]] to Hunters Quay (near [[Dunoon]]) since 1973. In 2005 the Scottish Executive put out to [[competitive tender]], the collective routes to the Hebrides as a block, with the Dunoon route being a separate tender.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/09/21123117| title=Proposals for Gourock-Dunoon ferry route| publisher=Scottish Executive| date=2005-09-21| accessdate=2007-08-29}}</ref> Three operators submitted bids for the routes<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4553462.stm| title=Contest narrows for CalMac routes| date=2005-12-23| work=[[BBC]]| accessdate=2007-08-29}}</ref> with Cal-Mac bidding to retain all its existing routes. The Executive will decide in 2006 to whom to award the contracts; successful bidders will run the services on a similar "lifeline" basis to Cal-Mac, and would receive subsidies from the Executive.
In September 2006, one of the three interested operators withdrew its interest in the (separate) Gourock to Dunoon route. [[V. Ships]] pulled out, leaving only Cal-Mac and Western Ferries to tender for this busy crossing.
Some island and union groups oppose the tendering process, fearing it would lead to cuts in services and could be a prelude to full privatisation. Whilst other islanders, visitors and actual ferry users fear the lack of competition and an every growing state ferry monopoly dominating all Scottish waters.
During the tendering period, the company of David MacBrayne Ltd., which had been legally dormant for many years, was re-activated on 4th July 2006. David MacBrayne Group Ltd., acquired the full share capital of Northlink Ferries Ltd., and took over operations of the Northlink routes on 6th July 2006. During September 2006, David MacBrayne Group Ltd., acquired the entire share capital of CalMac Ferries Ltd. In August 2006, David MacBrayne Group Ltd., directed two of its subsidiary companies, Cowal Ferries Ltd., and Rathlin Ferries Ltd., to take over operation of the Gourock to Dunoon, and Rathlin to Ballycastle services. Thus, from leaving the hands of David MacBrayne 68 years earlier in 1928, the west coast ferry service returned to the fold in 2006 vastly enlarged.
==Routes==
[[Image:MV Saturn Jan05.jpg|thumb|right|MV ''Saturn'' (''Satharn'' in [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]]) arrives at Gourock.]]
* [[Gourock]] in [[Inverclyde]] (near [[Greenock]]) to [[Dunoon]] on the [[Cowal]] peninsula, crossing the [[Firth of Clyde]] (23 minutes).
* [[Tarbert, Kintyre|Tarbert]] on the [[Kintyre]] peninsula to [[Portavadie]] on the Cowal peninsula, crossing [[Loch Fyne]] (25 minutes).
* [[Wemyss Bay]] in Inverclyde to [[Rothesay, Argyll and Bute|Rothesay]] on the [[Isle of Bute]], crossing the Firth of Clyde (35 minutes).
* [[Colintraive]] on the Cowal peninsula to [[Rhubodach]] on the north of the Isle of Bute, across the [[Kyles of Bute]] (5 minutes).
* [[Ardrossan]] in [[North Ayrshire]] to [[Brodick]] on the [[Isle of Arran]], across the Firth of Clyde (55 minutes).
* [[Claonaig]] on the Kintyre peninsula to [[Lochranza]] on the Isle of Arran, across the Sound of Bute (30 minutes).
* [[Largs]] in [[North Ayrshire]] to Cumbrae slip on [[Great Cumbrae]], crossing the Firth of Clyde (10 minutes).
* [[Tayinloan]] on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula to [[Ardminish]] on [[Gigha]] (20 minutes).
* [[Kennacraig]] on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula, through [[West Loch Tarbert]], across the [[Sound of Jura]] and the [[Sound of Islay]] to [[Port Askaig]] on the east coast of [[Islay]] (2 hours 5 minutes). Some services then connect to [[Scalasaig]] on [[Colonsay]] (1 hour 10 minutes).
* Kennacraig to [[Port Ellen]] on the south coast of Islay (2 hours 20 minutes).
* [[Craignure]] on [[Isle of Mull|Mull]] to [[Oban]], across the [[Firth of Lorne]] (45 minutes).
* [[Lochaline]] on the [[Ardnamurchan]] peninsula to [[Fishnish]] on Mull, across the [[Sound of Mull]] (15 minutes).
* [[Fionnphort]] on the [[Ross of Mull]] (in southwest Mull) to [[Iona]], across the [[Sound of Iona]] (5 minutes).
* [[Tobermory, Mull|Tobermory]] on Mull to [[Kilchoan]] on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, across the Sound of Mull (35 minutes).
* [[Oban]] to [[Achnacroish]] on the island of [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]], crossing the [[Lynn of Lorne]] (50 minutes).
* [[Oban]] to [[Arinagour]] on the island of [[Coll]], crossing the Firth of Lorne and the Sound of Mull (2 hours 55 minutes).
* Arinagour on Coll to [[Scarinish]] on the island of [[Tiree]] (1 hour).
* [[Sconser]] on the [[Isle of Skye]] to [[Raasay]], crossing the [[Narrows of Raasay]] (15 minutes).
* [[Mallaig]] on the west coast of the mainland to [[Armadale]] on the Isle of Skye, across the [[Sound of Sleat]] (25 minutes).
* Mallaig to the [[Small Isles]] ([[Eigg]], [[Muck, Scotland|Muck]], [[Rùm]], and [[Canna, Scotland|Canna]]). [[Image:CalMacFerry.jpg|thumb|right|MV ''Hebridean Isles'' at Scrabster]]
* [[Oban]] to [[Castlebay]] on [[Barra]] (5 hours) and Oban to [[Lochboisdale]] on [[South Uist]] (5 hours 20 minutes). Some of the Castlebay services stop additionally at [[Tiree]]. Some of the services make a triangular route (Oban -> Lochboisdale -> Castlebay -> Oban), with the journey from Lochboisdale to Castlebay taking 90 minutes.
* Barra to [[Eriskay]], across the [[Sound of Barra]] (40 minutes). Eriskay is connected to [[South Uist]] by a causeway.
* [[Uig, Skye|Uig]] on the Isle of Skye to [[Lochmaddy]] on [[North Uist]] (1 hour 45 minutes). Some services run via [[Tarbert, Harris|Tarbert]] on [[Harris]].
* [[Leverburgh]] on Harris to the island of [[Berneray, North Uist, Scotland|Berneray]] (1 hour). Berneray is connected to [[North Uist]] by a causeway.
* [[Stornoway, Outer Hebrides|Stornoway]] on [[Lewis]] to [[Ullapool]] in [[Ross]] (Wester Ross) (2 hours 45 minutes).
* [[Ballycastle]] in [[County Antrim]] to [[Rathlin Island]] (45 minutes). This is the company's first (and only) service in [[Northern Ireland]].
==Footnotes==
{{refbegin}}
<references/>
{{refend}}
==References==
* Clyde Pleasure Steamers - Ian McCrorie, Orr, Pollock & Co. Ltd., Greenock, ISBN 1-869850-00-9
* Steamers of the Highlands and Islands - Ian McCrorie, Orr, Pollock & Co. Ltd., Greenock,, ISBN 1-869850-01-7
* To the Coast: One Hundred Years of the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. - Ian McCrorie, Fairlie Press, Fairlie 1989, ISBN 1-871209-01-3
* The Kingdom of MacBrayne - Nick S. Robins and Donald E. Meek., Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh 2006, ISBN 1-84158-500-9
* Days At The Coast - Robert Preston., Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree 1994, ISBN 1-872074-42-1
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://www.calmac.co.uk/ CalMac (Official) Corporate Homepage]
* [http://www.calmacbookings.co.uk/booking/asp/web090.asp CalMac online bookings]
* [http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/ Ships of CalMac] - The History of the Fleet Online (Unofficial)
* [http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/ships_timeline.asp Ships of the Fleet] - A list of all past and present vessels.
* [http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/history_timeline.asp History of the company]
* [http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/h_jupiter.asp History of Jupiter] Rivalry on the Dunoon route.
* [http://www.aetours.co.uk/waverley1/ Paddle Steamer Waverley Virtual Tour]
* [http://www.calmacferries.net Calmac Ferries Photo Blog]
{{Scottish Ferry Operators}}
{{Scottish Executive Nationalised Industries}}
[[Category:Caledonian MacBrayne|*]]
[[Category:Scottish Ferry Operators]]
[[Category:Companies of Scotland]]
[[Category:Ferry systems]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies in Scotland]]
[[Category:Shipping companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Scottish public bodies]]
[[Category:Shipping in Scotland]]
[[Category:Transport in Scotland]]
[[Category:Transport operators of the United Kingdom]]
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