DAVID MACBRAYNE GROUP PUBLISHES 2008/09 ANNUAL REPORT

The David MacBrayne Group, which comprises the principal operators of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and the Northern Isles ferry services, today (Thursday, October 1) published its Annual Report for 2008/09.

The Annual Report includes the company’s main subsidiaries, CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd, together with Cowal Ferries Ltd, which operates between Gourock and Dunoon,

David MacBrayne Group Chairman Peter Timms said: "The most notable issues for us in 2008/09 were increased fuel costs, which rose by nearly 37% compared with the previous year, and the introduction of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot in the Western Isles. Both had a direct impact on the support we required from the Scottish Government, which rose by 30.8% to £89.6m.

Mr Timms said the Group recorded a profit before tax of £3.8m, revenue from fares and other sources was £80.1m while operating costs at £166.7m were largely in line with expectations with the notable exception of marine fuel costs.


In his foreword to the report, which was laid before the Scottish Parliament today, Mr Timms
reported that the group had carried a total of 5.4 million passengers, 1.2 million cars and 1.4 million metres of freight.

He said that traffic carryings in all categories on the Clyde and Hebrides routes showed decreases ranging from 2% to 7% compared with the previous year, but said this was due in part to the fact that the traditionally busy Easter period fell outwith this financial year whereas two Easter periods fell within the previous financial year.

Passenger and car carryings on the Northern Isles routes showed decreases of 3% and 4% respectively, while freight carryings increased by some 25%, mainly as a result of the impact of exceptionally high fish landings in Shetland.

All companies performed satisfactorily for reliability and punctuality.


Mr Timms also made reference to a major study which was conducted during the year comparing passenger and crew comfort levels on mono-hull and multi-hull ship designs, following suggestions that hi-speed catamarans should be introduced on some of its routes.

“The study by Strathclyde University reached the decisive conclusion that mono-hull designs demonstrated considerably better sea-keeping characteristics in terms of acceptable passenger and crew comfort in all of the measured parameters in the sea conditions on the routes which we operate throughout the year and, in addition, that mono-hull designs provide superior vessel manoeuvrability,” he said.

The results of the study have been fed into the Scottish Government’s Ferry review which is looking at future vessel needs.

Looking to the future, he said: ”The Group continues to build on its strengths, focusing on maintaining and, where possible, improving safety, comfort and quality of service to our customers, whilst endeavouring to control costs with a view to providing best value for customers and the taxpayer.”

The Annual Report of the David MacBrayne Group is available on the CalMac website (www.calmac.co.uk/annualreports.html)