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Scottish Police Patrol Ports as CalMac Staff Suffer Abuse from Ferry Fiasco
Police along the west coast of Scotland are having to patrol ports during bank holidays as ferry staff are being faced with abuse from frustrated travellers.
As The Herald reports, the threats include to running over workers from customers due to disruption arising from the ongoing ferry fiasco at CalMac.
The Scottish Government owned operator is also the largest in the UK with an ageing fleet of more than 30 vessels taking in over 50 ports and harbours along 200 miles of the coast.
Leaders from trade Unions have warned that the bleak picture of "under pressure" staff could lead to wrong decisions being made about sailing in addition to posing a risk to lives.
According to the unions, workers face issues with abuse and threats that has increased in the past five years - as disruption to lifeline island ferry services has become more acute.
In addition they say that Police Scotland are now having to monitor certain ports so to keep order when ferries are under demand in particular during bank holidays.
The union for maritime professionals at sea and ashore, Nautilus International has said there have been threats to run people over just to get on board ferries "as if that is going to help the situation".
At the core of the abuse are the continuing issues with CalMac's ageing ferry fleet breaking down, resulting in a string of cancellations and other disruption to services.
So far this year, around some 17 of the state-owned ferry operator's 31 working ferries deployed across Scotland's isles and lochs were past their 25-year-old life expectancy.
The oldest ferry in the CalMac fleet is the 46 year old Isle of Cumbrae, which Afloat adds was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co, Troon in 1976 and entered service the following year.
Nearby of Troon, is Ardrossan where another veteran the Isle of Arran dating to 1984 serves its island namesake to Brodrick. The Clyde route is to have the over-budget and much delayed newbuild duel-fuel powered Glen Sannox enter service albeit five years late in 2023.
The Herald (continues with more of the story) in highlighting that since the Scottish National Party came to power in 2007, the average age of CalMac's ferries has soared from 17 years to 24 years.
Back in 1974, the operator's vessel was typically just 13 years old.