Question reference: S4W-27340
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 7 September 2015
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Current status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 September 2015
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many outbreaks of the winter vomiting virus have been reported on Caledonian MacBrayne vessels in the last three years and how many vessels have been withdrawn from service for deep cleaning as a result.
Answer
In the past three years there have been five incidents where more than one passenger or member of CalMac crew have shown symptoms of the winter vomiting virus, also known as noro-virus. These incidents have resulted in one vessel, the MV Lord of the Isles, being taken off scheduled service for two full days, 10 and 11 April 2013, to carry out deep cleaning operations. It has been possible to carry out cleaning on other vessels without impeding the normal service provision. CalMac do, however, undertake precautionary cleaning on board their vessels whenever it is known that the virus is in the communities served by CalMac.