DISTILLERIES on Jura and Islay are operating “hand to mouth” due to the continued CalMac ferry disruption, the Scotch Whisky Association has said.
Only one ferry is currently operating on the route, providing three sailings on weekdays from Kennacraig on the mainland to the islands, due to delays in vessel servicing.
This is due to increase to four to six sailings, Monday to Friday, from next week.
The "world-famous whiskies" are promoted on CalMac's website as a reason to travel to the islands. Distilleries operating on the islands include Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain, Bowmore and Jura Whisky.
A number of CalMac’s vessels are currently out of action, with most of its ferries more than 30 years old and about half of its largest ships operating beyond their expected service life.
Fraser Grieve, Scotch Whisky Association deputy director of strategy, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme of the difficulties being faced.
He said: “CalMac is really struggling with vessels with quite a number out of action. That means that capacity is really constrained on the ferries that are available, having to really look at what they can carry.
“For our distilleries, that has become a real challenge, and we are having to operate hand to mouth, in terms of knowing if our goods can get off the island with timetables and capacity not confirmed until just a few days before sailings take place.
“In terms of distilleries, they require a constant supply of barley, of tankers to take the spirit off the island, so we’re looking at around 190 movements a week to and from Islay. It’s really important to sustain those deliveries to grow the economy on these islands.
“All distilleries are having to look at their options really carefully. It wouldn’t be a small decision to close a distillery due to the financial impact. It takes around five days to safely close down one.
READ MORE: CalMac: Ferry services cancelled due to engine fault
“It’s about that period that we’re getting any kind of confirmation that CalMac can take services and can take our fleet, so it really is operating on a hand to mouth basis at the moment, which is particularly challenging.”
His concerns come after one of CalMac’s largest ferries, the MV Loch Seaforth, developed engine control problems on Monday evening, causing cancellations on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.
CalMac has announced that sailings between Lochboisdale on South Uist and the mainland will be cancelled for several weeks from Sunday due to drydock delays and technical issues.
Four ferries to bolster the CalMac fleet are being built in Turkey, along with the Glen Sannox and the as-yet-unnamed hull 802, which have faced major delays and cost overruns during construction at the Scottish Government-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow.
A CalMac spokeswoman said: “Given the unprecedented level of disruption the CalMac fleet is experiencing right now, due to extended dry dock and technical issues, we are doing our utmost to service our commercial customers on Islay.
"We are aware of the precarious position that the distilleries find themselves in, and are striving to meet distillery demands and transportation needs through the hauliers.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel