Scottish government owned Caledonian McBrayne (CalMac) has condemned one of the country’s key port operators which it said has left a major ferry port harbour in an "unacceptable" condition. The situation was putting safe operations at risk despite CalMac paying out nearly £15.5m in fees over the last decade.

CalMac, the UK’s largest domestic ferry operator, has made a rare broadside over the conditions it has to operate in Ardrossan Harbour. The ferry company having delivered a damning indictment on the state of the port in North Ayrshire. The 55 minute service provides a crucial lifeline to and from the Isle of Arran and in a response to a campaign to nationalise Clydeport to bring the ports and harbours on the River Clyde into public ownership.

The ferry company’s interim chief executive, Duncan Mackison, has criticised the state of Ardrossan Harbour which is owned by Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second largest port company. Commenting on the facilities he said: "have not been maintained to an acceptable standard" and he added that there has been a lack of investment.”

In addition, he said in a message seen by The Herald, that the condition of Ardrossan Harbour "is all the more unacceptable" because of the £15.48m that CalMac has paid to Peel Ports for the use of its berths among them the ‘Irish’ berth as Afloat previously reported.

More here on the dispute between the ferry operator and port group.