Repair costs that keep the lifeline ferries between Arran and the mainland running have soared by two thirds in five years, according to new figures. 

This included a 61 per cent rise in the costs for the 37-year-old MV Isle of Arran and a 73 per cent increase in costs for the 28-year-old MV Caledonian Isles [pictured] over the five-year period.

The condition of Scotland’s ferry fleet has seen the bill for repairs to vessels operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd add up to more than £83 million over five years, Labour has said.

Amid ongoing delays to the construction of two new vessels for ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne, the party's islands spokeswoman, Rhoda Grant, hit out at the “soaring” cost of maintaining its existing vessels.

Repair costs rose from more than £14 million in the first year of the contract, which dates back to 2016, to almost £18.4m in the fourth year.

But costs actually fell slightly in the fifth year of the contract - to slightly less than £17.3 million.

Over five years, the costs amounted to £83.661 million, figures released to Scottish Labourunder Freedom of Information revealed.

The crossing between Ardrossan and Brodick is one of CalMac’s busiest routes.

Yet 2021, which should have been the year to capitalise on the staycation boom, saw Arran hit by repeated ferry cancellations.

Across the entire network, CalMac cancelled about one in 19 sailings in the first nine months of 2021.

Those 6,431 cancellations were more than for the whole of 2019 when there were 5,650.

The Scottish government-owned operator is on course for its highest-ever annual number of cancellations.

Amid ongoing delays to the construction of two new vessels for ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne, Labour islands spokeswoman, Rhoda Grant, hit out at the “soaring” cost of maintaining its existing vessels.

With the construction of the new MV Glen Sannox and the as-yet-unnamed Hull 802 both delayed and over budget, Labour accused the Scottish Government of having “abandoned island communities and left Scotland’s lifeline ferry fleet to rust”.

The two new ships, being built at the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow, were originally due to enter service during 2018 – but the Glen Sannox is now not expected to be ready until some time between July and September 2022, with Hull 802 not due for completion until between April and July of 2023.

Ms Grant criticised the Scottish Government, saying: “Years of neglect have left Scotland’s ferry fleet in a pitiful state, and their catastrophic mismanagement of the Ferguson’s Marine contracts made a bad situation worse.”

She added it was “little wonder costs are soaring when we are relying on vessels a decade past their lifespan”.

Ms Grant said: “The SNP’s shambolic approach to shipbuilding has failed islanders, workers and taxpayers alike.

“We desperately need some strategic thinking in the new ferry plan – something that has been sorely lacking so far.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman accepted that the ferry fleet was “ageing”, adding: “That’s why we are delivering new tonnage to support our communities by working with CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd), CalMac, MSPs, community representatives and others to develop investment programmes – at least £580 million over the next five years – for major vessels and small vessels.

“CalMac, as the operator of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, are required to keep the vessels seaworthy and in a good and efficient state of repair.

“This includes maintaining the classification of the vessels with the relevant classification society as well as complying with all other regulations and requirements.

“Ferries throughout Europe generally have a 30-year service life provided they are regularly maintained and serviced throughout this period.

“Vessels that carry on after the 30 years period will have increased maintenance costs as equipment will require replacement as opposed to serviced.”