Scottish Ferries union RMT today urged Transport Minister to call an urgent Ferries Summit to sort the crisis on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

The Herald reported last week that the CalMac Pentalina Cataraman Charter has been scrapped after raising safety concerns.

And Transport Scotland say they are holding urgent discussions with all relevant parties, with nothing being ruled out - saying that the Transport Minister, Graeme Day MSP 'has heard directly of the specific issues and challenges faced by ferry users.'

RMT had raised serious safety concerns with the regulator, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, over the modifications made to the Pentalina. 

It was expected that the Ardrossan-Arran route - one of CalMac's busiest services - was to be one of the routes to benefit from the craft that has now been scrapped. 

RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch said: “I am writing to repeat RMT’s demand that the Scottish Government calls an urgent summit meeting to discuss the crisis engulfing lifeline ferry services in the west of Scotland.

“Although there is understandable frustration at the ongoing failure to secure additional tonnage, the Pentalina episode again underlined the fact that trade unions are part of the solution to these problems.

"CalMac workers and local communities on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferries network all acknowledge that the cause of this crisis is the failure to procure suitable vessels in line with the Scottish Government’s Ferries Plan.

“A different approach to ferry procurement is urgently needed, in the short and the long term. This approach must include the voice and expertise of ferry workers who will operate passenger services on new and existing tonnage.

"RMT is clear that the recognised trade unions must be fully involved in discussions with Transport Scotland and CalMac over any future tonnage for the CHFS network.

“We strongly believe that a Scottish Ferries Summit involving CalMac trade unions and passengers, as well as Government officials from CMAL, Transport Scotland, and CalMac is urgently needed this summer. RMT is part of the solution to these problems and I urge the Scottish Government to agree to this constructive proposal.”

In a response to the union's request, a Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "The Minister for Transport has engaged with many ferries stakeholders and has heard directly of the specific issues and challenges faced by ferry users. The Minister has also held urgent discussions with Calmac and CMAL to identify options to improve the current position in the short and medium-term. 

“We recognise communities’ frustration at the recent disruption and the impact it is having. We are doing everything that we can, supporting Calmac to maximize available capacity across the network and to ensure the timely resolution of these issues.

“We are also delivering new tonnage to support our communities and working with CMAL, Calmac, MSPs, community representatives and others to develop investment programmes for major vessels and small vessels - investing at least £580 million over the next five years.  Unions are also involved and consulted around new vessels, including recent discussions on the new Islay Vessel.

“In relation to short-term issues, we are actively exploring opportunities for chartering additional tonnage and looking at other credible, affordable, and viable options to improve resilience.”