SCOTLAND'S biggest ferry operator CalMac has come under fire for wasting fuel and damaging the environment running a full service of empty ferries during the Covid-19 pandemic - a day after promoting its green credentials.
On Thursday the publicly funded and Scottish Government owned ferry firm announced it had exceeded targets to reduce its carbon footprint on the waters and islands of Scotland’s west coast.
It is currently looking to recruit a waste manager and a fuel manager to help "minimise waste and to maximise fuel efficiency to further reduce emissions".
But its green credentials are coming under new scrutiny for running a full ferry service, with no alterations to timetables in light of the pandemic.
The transport staff union TSSA say ScotRail and other rail services have by contrast been running a reduced timetable for months, reflecting the drop in demand and saving taxpayers money.
TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said, "ScotRail is currently running 65% of services in light of the reduced passenger demand due to the pandemic. Yet CalMac continues to run a full service, even though this means running empty ferries. This is an unforgiveable waste of taxpayers money, to say nothing of the environmental impact.
"It beggars belief that a company that claims to be too hard up to give their staff a proper payrise is willfully wasting money like this. They might as well be burning fivers in the car park!"
CalMac said it was operating lifeline services as specified by the Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland and were ready to deliver any timetable changes as required.
On Thursday the ferry company had championed its green credentials saying it had exceeded a carbon footprint reduction target ahead of a September 2019 deadline and and significantly reduced single-use plastics and was now working towards eliminating them altogether.
Klare Chamberlain, CalMac’s environmental manager, had said in response: “We operate in a beautiful part of the world and protecting the environment in which we sail is a key priority, which is why we have set commitments and targets to achieve this.
“We have worked hard over the reporting period to normalise and embed biodiversity thinking across our organisation - setting key targets, actions and performance indicators within our Business Plan and Environmental Strategy.
“This report details our commitment to preserving the diverse surroundings in which we operate a lifeline transport service for future generations to enjoy.”
A pay dispute between the ferry operator and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union mean that in November there were preparations to ballot staff for industrial action after two previous rounds of pay negotiations.
READ MORE: Anger as Scotland's ferry fleet deemed too 'big for islands and a taxpayer burden'
Scottish Labour leadership candidate Monica Lennon said it was "worrying that instead of reducing services to a timetable that reflects actual need, public money is being wasted on running empty ferries".
She added: The Scottish Government needs to start listening and act responsibly."
The union had suggested CalMac were offering a small pay rise to hundreds of staff who earlier last year received a “glossy postcard” from managing director Robbie Drummond thanking them for their “support, understanding and commitment” during the coronavirus pandemic.
Robbie Drummond, managing director of CalMac, said in response to the criticism: “We operate lifeline services, as specified by Transport Scotland, carrying key workers and essential supplies to and from remote communities where there are often no alternative transport routes. We are ready to deliver any changes to timetables which may be required.”
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