I READ with great interest about the ongoing dispute about whether there is merit in Associated British Ports' bid to move the mainland terminal for the Arran ferry service to Troon from Ardrossan (“Sea change, Herald Magazine, February 18). It is certainly true that the incidence of cancellations due to weather seems to be on the increase and much blame has been levelled at the harbour at Ardrossan, but it also appears to me that the number of weather-related disruptions across the entire CalMac network is also on the rise. There is ample evidence from the work (over decades) of world-respected ferry service experts such as Roy Pederson, Professor Alfred Baird, and exiled (Australia) Scot Stuart Ballantyne, that most of the fault lies in the complete failure to modernise the service and use modern lighter aluminium-hulled catamaran-style vessels with flat profile, greater breadth, and thus better sea-keeping characteristics and superior handling in wind.

Once again the taxpayer has to fork out £48m for a totally unsuitable (and ruinously expensive) replacement for the Caledonian Isles which will require two and a half crew of about 30 persons – 75 in total – and sleeping accommodation for one shift which limits the payload when two smaller faster "cats" could shuttle with far smaller shore-based crew and provide the island with a much better service.

These modern vessels burn lesser quantities of much less-polluting fuel and the crewing costs would be a fraction of the current level which prevail due to the hugely generous pay and conditions which are currently enjoyed by CalMac personnel. Heavy steel ships of the "traditional type" currently used require to burn a large quantity of extra fuel simply to push the large "cargo" of water ballast, required to keep the vessel upright, through the water. The designs for the new excellently performing ships are available "off the peg" due to their standard use around the world and could be built relatively cheaply in Scotland providing jobs for skilled men currently finding life difficult in oil-related industries.

The Arran service is the busiest ferry service in the CalMac network but still requires a subsidy of (best guess because the Scottish Government will not release accurate route by route figures) at least £1,650 per head per year for every resident of Arran. This is a scandal that could and should be addressed by the Scottish Government. It is possible that Ardrossan-Brodick, with the right ships, with the right crews, on the right pay and conditions, could actually generate a profit and do much to promote the economy of Arran. If the nettle had been grasped to modernise the Ulapool -Stornoway service when a replacement vessel was required there the economy of Lewis could have benefited too.

As long as the farce which is called open tendering for CalMac services continues as it is nothing will change. Any organisation tendering has to take the whole network, use the existing ships, using the same crews on the same pay and conditions and use the same port facilities currently existing, so what can ever change?

Reg Short,

1 Bernera Place, Kilmarnock.