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Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (usually shortened to CMAL or CMAssets; Stòras Mara Cailleannach Earr in
CMAL currently owns 39 ferries, of which 34 are operated by Calmac Ferries on routes to the islands and peninsulas of the west of Scotland. In April 2018 it was agreed that the five vessels operated by
CMAL is Harbour Authority at 24 locations across Scotland and owns the associated port infrastructure and properties at each of these locations. Additionally, CMAL owns and leases a number of properties at various locations associated with the delivery of Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services.
As Statutory Harbour Authority for a number of these harbours, CMAL's responsibilities and duties include:
* A duty of care to all port users
* An obligation to conserve and promote the safe use of the harbours
* Responsibility for efficiency, economy and safety of operation, in respect of the services and facilities provided
Hybrid ferries project - On 17 December 2012, the world's first seagoing roll-on roll-off vehicle and passenger diesel-electric hybrid ferry was launched by CMAL on the Clyde. incorporates a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and lithium ion battery power. The 135-tonne ferry is nearly 150 ft long and can accommodate 150 passengers, 23 cars or two heavy goods vehicles. She came into service between Skye and Raasay in the summer of 2013. A second hybrid ferry was launched in May 2013 and operates on the Tarbert-Portavadie route. A third, to be named was launched in spring 2016.
Brodick terminal redevelopment - CMAL completed the redevelopment of Brodick ferry terminal. The redevelopment included an entirely new pier with linkspan and airbridge, a second berth with concrete ramp, a new two-storey terminal building with bus station and car marshalling space. The old linkspan was removed and the causeway transformed into an outdoor seating area.
Official Homepage
Caledonian MacBrayne Official Homepage
{{Scottish Executive Nationalised Industries Public corporations of the Scottish Government Highlands and Islands of Scotland Companies based in Inverclyde 2006 establishments in Scotland Transport companies established in 2006 Water transport in Scotland
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...
) owns the ferries
A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water tax ...
, port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...
s, harbours
A harbor (American English), harbour (British English; see spelling differences), or haven is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is a ...
and infrastructure for the ferry services serving the west coast of Scotland, the Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde is the mouth of the River Clyde. It is located on the west coast of Scotland and constitutes the deepest coastal waters in the British Isles (it is 164 metres deep at its deepest). The firth is sheltered from the Atlantic ...
and the Northern Isles.
CMAL is a wholly owned public corporation of the Scottish Government, with Scottish Ministers as sole shareholders.
History
Until 1 October 2006Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne ( gd, Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn), usually shortened to CalMac, is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west ...
Ltd, which was wholly owned by the Scottish government, provided the majority of the Clyde and Hebrides
The Hebrides (; gd, Innse Gall, ; non, Suðreyjar, "southern isles") are an archipelago off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner and Outer Hebr ...
ferry services and owned the associated vessels and a number of the ports and harbour facilities that the vessels used. These services required an annual revenue deficit grant from the then Scottish Executive to maintain lifeline service levels.
To comply with European guidelines on State Aids in Maritime Transport, an open public tender was deemed necessary in respect of these ferry services and the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) was tendered as a single bundle, with the exception of the Gourock-Dunoon service.
In recognition of the uniqueness of the fleet and to ensure a level playing field for all bidders, on 1 October 2006 Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd was split into:
* An asset-owning company, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL).
* A new operating company, CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL).
This was done by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd transferring its operations - but not its assets - to CFL. The operation of the lifeline ferry service was then put out to open competitive tender.
CMAL now owns all vessels, the majority of land based assets (ports, harbours etc.) and the Caledonian MacBrayne brand, and makes them available to an operator through an open tendering process. CFL continues to operate the services after winning the tendering process and holds the Public Services Contract (PSC) until 30 September 2013. Under the terms of the tender CFL is bound to use the vessels of CMAL.
Business
CMAL's responsibilities include: * Maintaining, improving and enhancing assets such as vessels and the land and property around piers and harbours * Seeking extra investment to invest in ferries and harbour facilities * Working with stakeholders within Scotland and the wider maritime community to be acknowledged as the principal provider of the most cost-effective, innovative ferries and port infrastructure to the benefit of local communitiesFerries
CMAL currently owns 39 ferries, of which 34 are operated by Calmac Ferries on routes to the islands and peninsulas of the west of Scotland. In April 2018 it was agreed that the five vessels operated by NorthLink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries (also referred to as Serco NorthLink Ferries) is an operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, as well as ferry services, between mainland Scotland and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Since July 2012, it has been oper ...
on routes to the Orkney and Shetland islands would also joint the fleet. Many ferries are specially built for the ports they serve yet are still interchangeable and able to serve different crossings and can carry from one to 143 cars. The total fleet value was estimated at £130m in 2017.
and ceased operation with Caledonian MacBrayne in early 2018, and are now no longer part of the fleet.
Hebridean and Clyde ferries (Caledonian MacBrayne)
Northern Isles ferries (NorthLink Ferries)
Harbours
CMAL is Harbour Authority at 24 locations across Scotland and owns the associated port infrastructure and properties at each of these locations. Additionally, CMAL owns and leases a number of properties at various locations associated with the delivery of Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services.
As Statutory Harbour Authority for a number of these harbours, CMAL's responsibilities and duties include:
* A duty of care to all port users
* An obligation to conserve and promote the safe use of the harbours
* Responsibility for efficiency, economy and safety of operation, in respect of the services and facilities provided
Completed projects
Hybrid ferries project - On 17 December 2012, the world's first seagoing roll-on roll-off vehicle and passenger diesel-electric hybrid ferry was launched by CMAL on the Clyde. incorporates a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and lithium ion battery power. The 135-tonne ferry is nearly 150 ft long and can accommodate 150 passengers, 23 cars or two heavy goods vehicles. She came into service between Skye and Raasay in the summer of 2013. A second hybrid ferry was launched in May 2013 and operates on the Tarbert-Portavadie route. A third, to be named was launched in spring 2016.
Brodick terminal redevelopment - CMAL completed the redevelopment of Brodick ferry terminal. The redevelopment included an entirely new pier with linkspan and airbridge, a second berth with concrete ramp, a new two-storey terminal building with bus station and car marshalling space. The old linkspan was removed and the causeway transformed into an outdoor seating area.
Current projects
Sustainable ferries study - CMAL was commissioned to carry out a feasibility study forScottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government which encourages economic development, enterprise, innovation and investment in business. The body covers the eastern and central parts of Scotland whilst similar ...
to evaluate the technical and commercial possibilities of using hydrogen fuel cells to enable the development of zero emission ferries. Along with Orkney Islands Council
The Orkney Islands Council ( gd, Comhairle Eileanan Arcaibh), is the local authority for Orkney, Scotland. It was established in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local government changes ...
, Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products for markets such as heavy-duty motive (consisting of bus and tram applications), portable power, material handling as well as engine ...
, Kongsberg Maritime
Kongsberg Maritime (KM) is a Norwegian technology enterprise within the Kongsberg Gruppen (KOG). Kongsberg Maritime deliver systems for positioning, surveying, navigation, and automation to merchant vessels and offshore installations. Their most ...
and others, CMAL are part of the HySeas III consortium hoping to demonstrate that fuel cells can be integrated with a marine hybrid electric drive system. The project hopes to develop a vessel to operate between Kirkwall
Kirkwall ( sco, Kirkwaa, gd, Bàgh na h-Eaglaise, nrn, Kirkavå) is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland.
The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name (''Church Bay''), which later changed to ''Kirkv ...
and Shapinsay
Shapinsay (, sco, Shapinsee) is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. There is one village on the island, Balfour, from which roll-on/roll-off car ferries sail to Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland. Balfour Castle ...
.
Dual-fuel ferries - in September 2015, it was announced that CMAL would order two ferries from Ferguson Marine Engineering
Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited is a shipbuilding company whose yard, located in Port Glasgow on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, was established in 1903. It is the last remaining shipbuilder on the lower Clyde and is currently the only ...
(FMEL). The vessels will be able to operate on liquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6) that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport. It takes up about 1/600th the vol ...
(LNG) and marine diesel, future-proofing them for tighter sulphur emissions regulations. They will be the largest commercial vessels to be built on the Clyde since 2001. The first, named , was due to enter service at Ardrossan in 2018, with the second yet to be named by online vote following a few months later. Both vessels have been delayed, with the shipyard going into administration in August 2019. The Ferry Fiasco is an ongoing political scandal in Scotland, exposing management failures across all parties involved.
LNG facilities - at Uig and Ardrossan
Ardrossan (; ) is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in southwestern Scotland. The town has a population of 10,670 and forms part of a conurbation with Saltcoats and Stevenston known as the ' Three Towns'. Ardrossan is located on the east shore ...
for the dual-fuel vessels under construction.
CMAL's corporate plan includes ambitious proposals to modernise the fleet which could see 18 new ships either delivered or on order and widespread work on pier and port infrastructure by 2024.
Small vessel replacement programme - to replace the oldest of the Loch class, in two phases over ten years. The new vessels would be more environmentally-friendly and meet higher regulatory standards.
New Islay ferry - to replace ; the order to have an option for a second vessel.
Gourock - replacements for the passenger-only fleet serving Dunoon and Kilcreggan.
Future major vessel 1/2 - ‘design project’ phase for two major units.
Northern Isles freight - 'design stage' for two vessels, possibly with some passenger capacity.
Footnotes
References
* Clyde Pleasure Steamers - Ian McCrorie, Orr, Pollock & Co. Ltd., Greenock, * Steamers of the Highlands and Islands - Ian McCrorie, Orr, Pollock & Co. Ltd., Greenock, * To the Coast: One Hundred Years of the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. - Ian McCrorie, Fairlie Press, Fairlie 1989, * The Kingdom of MacBrayne - Nick S. Robins and Donald E. Meek., Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh 2006, * Days At The Coast - Robert Preston., Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree 1994,External links
Official Homepage
Caledonian MacBrayne Official Homepage
{{Scottish Executive Nationalised Industries Public corporations of the Scottish Government Highlands and Islands of Scotland Companies based in Inverclyde 2006 establishments in Scotland Transport companies established in 2006 Water transport in Scotland