Caledonian MacBrayne

CalMac Ferries Ltd
Caledonian MacBrayne,
CalMac
Company typeGovernment-owned service
IndustryTransport
Founded1973
HeadquartersGourock, Scotland[1]
Number of locations
50 ports and harbours across Scotland
Area served
Firth of Clyde,
Outer Hebrides,
Inner Hebrides
Key people
Duncan Mackison (CEO) (ad interim)[2]
ServicesFerry operations between mainland Scotland and islands
Revenue£227 million[3]
£28 million[4]
-£3.7 million[4]
OwnerScottish Government
Number of employees
1,700 (about 1,000 sea going)[5]
ParentDavid MacBrayne
DivisionsArgyll Ferries (2011 to 2019)
SubsidiariesCaledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Ltd
(employer of sea going staff)
Websitewww.calmac.co.uk
The funnel of MV Juno

Caledonian MacBrayne (Scottish Gaelic: Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn), in short form CalMac, is the trade name of CalMac Ferries Ltd, the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries to the west coast of Scotland, serving ports on the mainland and 22 of the major islands. It is a subsidiary of holding company David MacBrayne, which is owned by the Scottish Government.[6]

Its predecessor, the government owned Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, was formed in 1973 as a ferry owner and operator. In 2006 these functions were separated to meet EU requirements for competitive tendering. The company, renamed Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL), continued to own the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet and assets. The contract for operating Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services using these vessels was put out to open competitive tender. and CalMac Ferries Ltd was created in October 2006 as a separate company to bid for the work.[6] CalMac was awarded the contract, as well as a later competitive procurement process, and since 1 October 2007 has operated the services.[7]

CalMac operates 34 vessels to over 50 ports and harbours on the west coast of Scotland (CMAL owns 16 of these ports and harbours). Caledonian MacBrayne operate on average over 162,700 sailings annually. 2018 was the company's busiest in terms of passenger numbers, carrying an estimated 5,309,771 passengers.[5][8]

  1. ^ "CalMac Ferries Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Board of Directors". CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  3. ^ "CalMac Ferries: Socio-Economic Impact Report".
  4. ^ a b "CalMac's achievements outlined in latest annual report".
  5. ^ a b "About Us". CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CalMac History was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "About Us". CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Locations". CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2024.