Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)

Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Question reference: S6W-44001

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many ferry sailings were scheduled in each year on the Lochranza to Tarbert and Tarbert to Lochranza ferry route in each year since 1 April 1999, and how many sailings did not take place due to (a) inclement weather, (b) mechanical breakdown and (c) other reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

CalMac does not hold data on sailing performance prior to January 2007. The data provided covers up to February 2026, although that month has still to be audited and may therefore be subject to change.

Sailings cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic are included in the "cancelled (other)" category. During the period that services were compliant with COVID-19 regulations, the original scheduled timetables for routes across the network were replaced with lifeline and essential travel timetables.

The data in the following table is from May 2023 onwards when CalMac launched their new ticketing system. Prior to this, figures were reported under Claonaig/Lochranza as it was a shared service. These figures have been provided in the answer to S6W-44000 on 10 March 2026.

There is no data for 2026 yet as the service has not operated. This is because separate Claonaig/Lochranza and Tarbert/Portavadie services have been delivered during the winter 2025-26 period.

Route	Year	Leg	Scheduled Sailings	Cancelled (weather)	Cancelled (technical)	Cancelled (other)
Tarbert/ Lochranza	2023	Total	123	12	0	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	62	6	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	61	6	0	0
	2024	Total	298	14	101	5
		Lochranza-Tarbert	148	7	26	2
		Tarbert-Lochranza	150	7	75	3
	2025	Total	168	9	2	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	84	5	1	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	84	4	1	0

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Filter your results Hide all filters

Question reference: S6W-44001

Answer