Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Encyclopedia
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (usually shortened to CMAL or CMAssets; Stòras Mara Cailleannach Earr in Scottish Gaelic) owns the ferries, ports, harbours and infrastructure for the ferry services serving the west coast of Scotland
and the Clyde Estuary.
CMAL is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, with Scottish Ministers as sole shareholders.
ltd, which was wholly owned by Scottish Ministers, provided the majority of the Clyde and Hebrides
ferry services and owned the associated vessels and a number of the ports and harbour facilities that the vessels used. These services required an annual revenue deficit grant from the then Scottish Executive to maintain lifeline service levels.
To comply with European guidelines on State Aids in Maritime Transport, an open public tender was deemed necessary in respect of these ferry services and the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) was tendered as a single bundle, with the exception of the Gourock-Dunoon service.
In recognition of the uniqueness of the fleet and to ensure a level playing field for all bidders, on 1 October 2006 Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd was split into:
This was done by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd transferring its operations - but not its assets - to CFL. The operation of the lifeline ferry service was then put out to open competitive tender.
CMAL now owns all vessels, land based assets (ports, harbours etc) and the Caledonian MacBrayne Brand and makes them available to an operator through an open tendering process. CFL continues to operate the services after winning the tendering process and holds the Public Services Contract (PSC) until 30 September 2013. Under the terms of the tender CFL is bound to use the vessels of CMAL.
All ferries are specially built for the ports they serve yet are still interchangeable and able to serve different crossings and can carry from five to 123 cars. The total fleet value is £120m.
MV Argyle
MV Bute
MV Caledonian Isles
MV Canna
MV Clansman
MV Coruisk
MV Eigg
MV Finlaggan
MV Hebrides
MV Hebridean Isles
MV Isle of Arran
MV Isle of Cumbrae
MV Isle of Lewis
MV Isle of Mull
MV Loch Alainn
MV Loch Bhrusda
MV Loch Buie
MV Loch Dunvegan
MV Loch Fyne
MV Loch Linnhe
MV Loch Portain
MV Loch Ranza
MV Loch Riddon
MV Loch Shira
MV Loch Striven
MV Loch Tarbert
MV Lochnevis
MV Lord of the Isles
MV Raasay
MV Saturn
Arran
: Brodick
Arran
: Lochranza
Barra
: Castlebay
Bute
: Rhubodach
Claonaig
Colintraive
Coll
: Arinagour
Colonsay
: Scalasaig
Cumbrae: Tattie Pier
Gourock
Harris
: Tarbert
Islay
: Port Ellen
Kennacraig
Kilchoan
Largs
Lochaline
Mull
: Fishnish
Mull
: Tobermory
Oban
Portavadie
Skye
: Armadale
Tiree
: Gott Bay
South Uist
: Lochboisdale
Wemyss Bay
As Statutory Harbour Authority for a number of these harbours, CMAL’s responsibilities and duties include:
. It is anticipated that the first vessel will enter service in late spring/early summer 2013, with the second following six months later.
Port Ellen and Kennacraig improvements - Work is being undertaken at Port Ellen and Kennacraig harbours to deliver improved berthing facilities and accommodate the MV Finlaggan.
Lochranza sea wall replacement - Construction of the new wall is planned to commence April 2012 , with the works estimated to take approximately three months.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the Clyde Estuary.
CMAL is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, with Scottish Ministers as sole shareholders.
History
Until 1 October 2006 Caledonian MacBrayneCaledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
ltd, which was wholly owned by Scottish Ministers, provided the majority of the Clyde and Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
ferry services and owned the associated vessels and a number of the ports and harbour facilities that the vessels used. These services required an annual revenue deficit grant from the then Scottish Executive to maintain lifeline service levels.
To comply with European guidelines on State Aids in Maritime Transport, an open public tender was deemed necessary in respect of these ferry services and the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) was tendered as a single bundle, with the exception of the Gourock-Dunoon service.
In recognition of the uniqueness of the fleet and to ensure a level playing field for all bidders, on 1 October 2006 Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd was split into:
- An asset-owning company, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL).
- A new operating company, CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL).
This was done by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd transferring its operations - but not its assets - to CFL. The operation of the lifeline ferry service was then put out to open competitive tender.
CMAL now owns all vessels, land based assets (ports, harbours etc) and the Caledonian MacBrayne Brand and makes them available to an operator through an open tendering process. CFL continues to operate the services after winning the tendering process and holds the Public Services Contract (PSC) until 30 September 2013. Under the terms of the tender CFL is bound to use the vessels of CMAL.
Business
CMAL’s responsibilities include:- Maintaining, improving and enhancing assets such as vessels and the land and property around piers and harbours
- Seeking extra investment to invest in ferries and harbour facilities
- Working with stakeholders within Scotland and the wider maritime community to be acknowledged as the principal provider of the most cost-effective, innovative ferries and port infrastructure to the benefit of local communities
Ferries
CMAL currently owns 30 ferries, all of which are operated by Calmac Ferries and Rathlin Ferries on routes to the islands and peninsulas of the west of Scotland.All ferries are specially built for the ports they serve yet are still interchangeable and able to serve different crossings and can carry from five to 123 cars. The total fleet value is £120m.
MV Argyle
MV Argyle
MV Argyle is a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the route between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay. She is the seventh Clyde ship to have the name Argyle.-History:...
MV Bute
MV Bute
MV Bute is a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, on the route between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay.-History:...
MV Caledonian Isles
MV Caledonian Isles
MV Caledonian Isles is one of the largest ships owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. Caledonian MacBrayne operates ferries in the Hebridean and Clyde Islands of Scotland. MV Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route...
MV Canna
MV Canna
MV Canna is a car ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne in 1975. She is now owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and by operated by Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd on the Ballycastle to Rathlin Island route in Northern Ireland.-History:...
MV Clansman
MV Clansman
MV Clansman is a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, operating from Oban on the west coast of Scotland.-History:...
MV Coruisk
MV Coruisk
MV Coruisk is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 2003, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and serving the west coast of Scotland.-History:...
MV Eigg
MV Eigg
MV Eigg is a car ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne in 1974. She is owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and has operated mostly on the Oban to Lismore route since 1976.-Layout:...
MV Finlaggan
MV Finlaggan
MV Finlaggan is a vehicle and passenger ferry built in Poland for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited to be operated by Caledonian MacBrayne for the Islay service.-History:...
MV Hebrides
MV Hebrides
MV Hebrides a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Uig on the west coast of Scotland.-History:...
MV Hebridean Isles
MV Hebridean Isles
MV Hebridean Isles is a ro-ro vehicle ferry a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the west coast of Scotland. She was the first MacBrayne vessel to be built outside Scotland and the first to be launched sideways. With bow, stern and side ramps,...
MV Isle of Arran
MV Isle of Arran
MV Isle of Arran is a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated on the west coast of Scotland by Caledonian MacBrayne. Built for the Arran service, she has more recently been at Kennacraig and the winter relief vessel.-History:...
MV Isle of Cumbrae
MV Isle of Cumbrae
MV Isle of Cumbrae is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1976 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. For ten years she was at Largs and has been on the Loch Fyne crossing since 1999.-Layout:...
MV Isle of Lewis
MV Isle of Lewis
MV Isle of Lewis is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited owned ferry operated between Ullapool and Stornoway by Caledonian MacBrayne. She is currently their only ship over in length.-History:...
MV Isle of Mull
MV Isle of Mull
MV Isle of Mull is one of the larger Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferries operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Oban on the west of Scotland.-History:MV Isle of Mull was designed for the route between Oban and Craignure on the Isle of Mull...
MV Loch Alainn
MV Loch Alainn
MV Loch Alainn is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 1997 and operated by and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne for a new service from Fishnish to Lochaline. Berthing problems meant she was soon replaced by...
MV Loch Bhrusda
MV Loch Bhrusda
MV Loch Bhrusda is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. After 11 years operating in the Outer Hebrides, she is the spare small vessel on the Clyde.-History:...
MV Loch Buie
MV Loch Buie
MV Loch Buie is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 1992, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and operating to Iona.-History:...
MV Loch Dunvegan
MV Loch Dunvegan
MV Loch Dunvegan is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited car ferry built for the Isle of Skye crossing and now operating in the Kyles of Bute, Scotland. She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.-History:...
MV Loch Fyne
MV Loch Fyne
MV Loch Fyne is a Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry, owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, built in 1991 for the Isle of Skye crossing and now operating on the Lochaline to Fishnish route across the Sound of Mull in western Scotland.-History:...
MV Loch Linnhe
MV Loch Linnhe
MV Loch Linnhe is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne After over ten years at Largs, she has been the summer vessel on the Tobermory – Kilchoan crossing since 1999.-History:...
MV Loch Portain
MV Loch Portain
MV Loch Portain is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, built for the Sound of Harris crossing in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-History:...
MV Loch Ranza
MV Loch Ranza
MV Loch Ranza is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, serving the island of Gigha.-History:...
MV Loch Riddon
MV Loch Riddon
MV Loch Riddon is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. After eleven years in the Kyles of Bute, she has been at Largs since 1997.-History:...
MV Loch Shira
MV Loch Shira
MV Loch Shira is a car ferry operating on the Largs to Cumbrae route on the Firth of Clyde in western Scotland. She is owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, more affectionately known as Calmac.-History:...
MV Loch Striven
MV Loch Striven
MV Loch Striven is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 and currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. After over ten years at Largs, she has served the island of Raasay since 1997.-History:...
MV Loch Tarbert
MV Loch Tarbert
MV Loch Tarbert is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1992 and currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. She has spent her whole career on the seasonal Claonaig – Lochranza crossing.-Layout:...
MV Lochnevis
MV Lochnevis
MV Lochnevis is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry, launched in 2000 and operating in the Small Isles of Scotland. She is currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne-History:...
MV Lord of the Isles
MV Lord of the Isles
MV Lord of the Isles is one of the larger Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferries, run by Caledonian MacBrayne and operating from Oban on the west of Scotland. Built in Port Glasgow, she is the most-travelled vessel in today's fleet.-History:...
MV Raasay
MV Raasay
MV Raasay is a bow-loading passenger and vehicle ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, serving Raasay until 2001, and now a spare vessel.-History:...
MV Saturn
MV Saturn
MV Saturn is a passenger and vehicle ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. She entered service in 1977, operating the Rothesay crossing for the first decade of her career. Her ro-ro open car deck is accessible by...
Harbours
CMAL is Harbour Authority at 24 locations across Scotland and owns the associated port infrastructure and properties at each of these locations. Additionally, CMAL’s owns and leases a number of properties at various locations associated with the delivery of Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services.Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
: Brodick
Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
: Lochranza
Lochranza
Lochranza is a village located on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The population, somewhat in decline, is around 200 people....
Barra
Barra
The island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.-Geography:The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078...
: Castlebay
Castlebay
Castlebay is the main village and a community council area on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is located on the south coast of the island, and overlooks a bay in the Atlantic Ocean dominated by Kisimul Castle, as well as nearby islands such as Vatersay.- Church :The...
Bute
Bute
- People :* John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute , British Prime Minister in office between 1762 and 1763* Marquess of Bute, a peerage title in the Peerage of Great Britain* Lucian Bute , Romanian boxer...
: Rhubodach
Rhubodach
Rhubodach is a small settlement on the north-eastern shore of the Isle of Bute, Scotland.The name Rhubodach may come from the Gaelic Rubha a’ Bhodaich which translates as old man's point or promontory or alternatively may be from An Rubha Bhódaich meaning the Bute headland.Rhubodach lies at the...
Claonaig
Claonaig
Claonaig is a small village on the east coast of the Kintyre peninsula in western Scotland, linked to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran by ferry .From Claonaig, Tarbert is 10 miles away via the minor B8001 road and the A83...
Colintraive
Colintraive
Colintraive is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Ferries sail between Colintraive and Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. It is located on the Kyles of Bute or Loch Riddon on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula...
Coll
Coll
Coll is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:...
: Arinagour
Arinagour
Arinagour is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is the main settlement on the Isle of Coll....
Colonsay
Colonsay
Colonsay is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull and has an area of . It is the ancestral home of Clan Macfie and the Colonsay branch of Clan MacNeill. Aligned on a south-west to north-east axis, it measures in length and reaches at its widest...
: Scalasaig
Scalasaig
Scalasaig is the main settlement on the island of Colonsay in the Hebrides of Scotland. It is home to the only port on the isle and thus all tourists must pass through it on the way to any part of the isle. It contains the island's General Store, Post Office, Cafe and Hotel/Bar....
Cumbrae: Tattie Pier
Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
Harris
Harris
Harris is the southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to as the Isle of Harris, which is the former postal county and the current post town for Royal Mail postcodes starting...
: Tarbert
Tarbert, Western Isles
Tarbert is the main community on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is also a car ferry terminal to Uig on Skye. Its name means "isthmus".-1990 RAF air crash:...
Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
: Port Ellen
Port Ellen
Port Ellen is a small town on the island of Islay, in Argyll, Scotland.Port Ellen is named after the wife of the founder, Frederick Campbell of Islay. Its previous name, Leòdamas, is derived from old Norse meaning "Leòd's Harbour"....
Kennacraig
Kennacraig
Kennacraig is a hamlet situated on West Loch Tarbert, Argyll, a few miles south of Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula.Caledonian MacBrayne ferries sail from the terminal, on the rocky islet Eilean Ceann na Creige, to Port Ellen or Port Askaig on Islay and to Colonsay....
Kilchoan
Kilchoan
Kilchoan is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village on Great Britain, although several tiny hamlets lie further west on the peninsula .Kilchoan has a population of about 150.-History:Donaldson equates 'Buarblaig' Kilchoan (Cille...
Largs
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
Lochaline
Lochaline
Lochaline is the main village in Morvern. It is situated at the mouth of Loch Aline, on the northern shore. Lochaline is connected with Fishnish on the Isle of Mull by ferry....
Mull
Mull
-Places:*Isle of Mull, Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides*Sound of Mull, between the island and the rest of Scotland*Mull , Anglicisation of Gaelic Maol, hill or promontory**Mull of Galloway, Scotland**Mull of Kintyre, Scotland...
: Fishnish
Fishnish
Fishnish is a ferry terminal for the ferry on the Isle of Mull, roughly half way between Tobermory and Craignure. It is owned and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne...
Mull
Mull
-Places:*Isle of Mull, Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides*Sound of Mull, between the island and the rest of Scotland*Mull , Anglicisation of Gaelic Maol, hill or promontory**Mull of Galloway, Scotland**Mull of Kintyre, Scotland...
: Tobermory
Tobermory
-Places:* Tobermory, Mull, the chief town of the Isle of Mull in Scotland** Tobermory *** Tobermory Single Malt Scotch whisky** Tobermory High School* Tobermory, Ontario, a town on the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada** Tobermory Airport...
Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
Portavadie
Portavadie
Portavadie is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.The Portavadie complex was built with the help of local labour from the fishing village 'Tarbert' that lay due west across Loch Fyne. The locals from Tarbert who worked there were told that oil had been found on the west shores Loch...
Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
: Armadale
Armadale
-Places in Australia:*Armadale, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne*Armadale, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth*City of Armadale*Electoral district of Armadale*Armidale, New South Wales -Rail in Australia:...
Tiree
Tiree
-History:Tiree is known for the 1st century BC Dùn Mòr broch, for the prehistoric carved Ringing Stone and for the birds of the Ceann a' Mhara headland....
: Gott Bay
South Uist
South Uist
South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The...
: Lochboisdale
Lochboisdale
Lochboisdale is a community and the main population centre on the island of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.The town profited from the herring boom in the 19th century, and a steamer pier was built in 1880...
Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'...
As Statutory Harbour Authority for a number of these harbours, CMAL’s responsibilities and duties include:
- A duty of care to all port users
- An obligation to conserve and promote the safe use of the harbours
- Responsibility for efficiency, economy and safety of operation, in respect of the services and facilities provided
Current Projects
Hybrid ferries project - In 2010, CMAL announced plans to develop the world’s first sea going Roll On Roll Off vehicle and passenger diesel electric hybrid ferryHybrid ferry
Hybrid ferries combine traditional diesel power with electric battery power, resulting in reductions in fossil fuel consumption, carbon emissions and other pollutants.-Development - Scotland:...
. It is anticipated that the first vessel will enter service in late spring/early summer 2013, with the second following six months later.
Port Ellen and Kennacraig improvements - Work is being undertaken at Port Ellen and Kennacraig harbours to deliver improved berthing facilities and accommodate the MV Finlaggan.
Lochranza sea wall replacement - Construction of the new wall is planned to commence April 2012 , with the works estimated to take approximately three months.
External links
- CMAssets (Official) Corporate Homepage
- CalMac (Official) Corporate Homepage
- Ships of CalMac - The History of the Fleet Online (Unofficial)
- Ships of the Fleet - A list of all past and present vessels.
- History of the company