Corporate CalMac

CalMac Ferries Ltd., which was incorporated in May 2006 (SC302282), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, which is wholly owned by Scottish Ministers.

As a result of corporate restructuring which took place in October 2006 as part of the preparation for the tender process for the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services, CalMac Ferries Ltd. took over operation of these services as successor to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.

As a separate element of this corporate restructuring, Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd had its name changed to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL) and retained ownership of the vessels and piers which are required for the operation of the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry services.

Under the new arrangements, CMAL leases the vessels and piers to the operator of the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry services (currently CalMac Ferries Ltd.). CMAL is also wholly owned by Scottish Ministers and is based in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde.

All employees of Caledonian MacBrayne Limited, with a small number of exceptions, transferred their employment to CalMac Ferries Limited with effect from 1 October 2006. The transfer had no impact upon employees' terms and conditions. There will be no alteration in ships' livery or branding.

CalMac Ferries Limited has two wholly owned subsidiaries:  Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Limited, which employs and supplies all sea going staff (approx 770) to CalMac Ferries Limited. The second subsidiary company, David MacBrayne HR (UK) Limited, which is based in Gourock, provides comprehensive HR services to CalMac Ferries Limited, which employs approximately 390 shore-based staff and to Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Limited.

All of the services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd require subsidy as the normal operation of market forces would not ensure a sufficient service level to the communities all the year round at acceptable fares levels. This subsidy is provided to support approved services which, in the opinion of Scottish Ministers, are necessary to maintain the economic or social conditions in the Highlands and Islands. In 2003-4 and 2004-5 it was £25.9million; in 2005-6 it was £31.4 million

CalMac Ferries Ltd currently charters a fleet of 29 vessels from CMAL to provide passenger, vehicle and shipping services to the islands off the West Coast of Scotland and in the Clyde estuary. Two other vessels are retained on separate charters. There are currently 26 routes within the network. In the year ended 31 March 2006, 5.3 million passengers, 1.1 million cars, 94,000 commercial vehicles and 14,000 coaches were carried.

This was the third consecutive year more than 5 million passengers and over one million accompanied cars were carried on the Company’s services.