Scottish Government slammed over £200k diesel generator spend for ferries due to be replaced
Updated: July 4, 2021, 10:30 am
MV Finlaggan. unknown. Supplied by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).
The Scottish Government has revealed plans to spend £200,000 on diesel generators – for two ferries due to be replaced.
CalMac Ferries have advertised for companies who make “emergency generator sets” to come forward to assist as the ones on MV Loch Dunvegan and MV Loch Fyne are obsolete.
But the spend, which comes ahead of a replacement plan for the ferries, has sparked criticism from Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, who has been campaigning for the government to make faster moves towards purchasing additional ferry capacity.
Labour MSP Katy Clark demands answers after ferry-hire talks fail thenational.scot - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenational.scot Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has called for action to restore ferry service to Barra ISLANDERS are facing empty shop shelves and out of date food after a community has only had one ferry to its mainland ports in 10 days. An SNP MSP has called on the Scottish Government to intervene after islanders on Barra have faced a host of interruptions to lifeline ferry services, warning over economic and human impacts. CalMac, which operates the routes, has apologised after poor weather conditions and a string of repair works needed on vessels has meant Barra has gone 10 days with one one ferry run to Oban.
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The Scottish Government is being urged to consider chartering an extra vessel to help businesses in Barra which has gone ten days with just one ferry run to the mainland.
Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan has highlighted the issue, caused by “inclement weather and poor fleet resilience”.
Mr Allan said the situation has left shops in Barra attempting to stock food via Eriskay, with perishables arriving days old. Other businesses, including seafood processors, are unable to ship fresh produce off the island on time.