SCOTLAND’S biggest ferry operator carried more than 5.6 million passengers and more than 1.4m vehicles to Scotland’s islands and other beauty spots as traffic showed another year-on-year increase.
David MacBrayne Ltd (DML), which operates CalMac Ferries, saw growth in the number of passengers visiting the western isles last year.
“I am delighted to report on a very successful last financial year, in what has been a very challenging working environment,” said DML chief executive, Duncan Mackison.
“Increased passenger volumes, combined with a higher number of sailings that we have been tasked with carrying out, are placing more and more pressure on our services.
“It is testament to the innovative approaches, skill and dedication of our staff that we can deliver an increase in profit on what is a highly specified and detailed contract to deliver ferry services across the west coast.
“Against a challenging background, our performance, both financially and in our service offering to the travelling public is outstanding,” said Mackison.
The chief executive went on to say the firm’s statistics – including service reliability of 99.4% and punctuality of 99.6% – were “figures any transport operator would be rightly proud of”.
Over the last year DML has worked to increase its focus on environmental issues, and bosses say the company is on course to cut its carbon emissions by 5% over the next 12 months – equivalent to the carbon output produced by 1668 cars in one year. DML says the carbon emission cuts are being achieved via the use of fuel monitoring systems.
Another area DML says it has been focused on is providing opportunities for young people via modern apprenticeships, which have doubled over the last two years
Since CalMac was crowned ferry operator of the year at the UK Transport Awards last year, DML has launched its new Community Fund. The fund offers support to groups working with young people in the company’s area of operation and works with charities across the west coast.
And towards central Scotland the wider DML group has seen growth, having taken over the management of Perth Harbour in July 2018 and seeing marine traffic increase by 31%.
“We have ambitions to grow even more over the next few years and continue to add value for our communities, the Scottish Government and Scottish taxpayers,” added Mackison.
He continued: “The ferry industry across Scotland faces a number of challenges in the future and we stand ready to offer our expertise, innovation and world class experience to benefit the whole industry.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here