CMAL suggested operators were mainly responsible for vessel specificationiiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 28 February 2023, Col 22, but also suggested it laid out pre-determined criteria (for example the length of a ship).iiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 28 February 2023, Col 22 CalMac said it was "agnostic on vessel design".iiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 21 February 2023, Col 38 Stuart Garrett said it was the role of the operator to design ferriesiiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 21 February 2023, Col 30 while Robbie Drummond said "..we have to used whatever is provided to us and we will do that to the absolute best of our ability".iiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 21 February 2023, Col 29
We have received a wealth of evidence on the merits of catamarans over monohulls.xviiWritten submissions from Alf Baird and Mull and Iona Ferry Committee (Feb 23) These included—
Cheaper to purchase allowing for more boats for the same money and thus increased frequency of services;iiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 31 January 2023, Col 4 and 17
Quicker to build;iiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 31 January 2023, Col 4
More efficient to run and "half the powers requirement of a monohull, to they have half the emissions";iiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 31 January 2023, Col 4 and 22 and
They are lighteriiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 31 January 2023, Col 23 and more stable in the water.iiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 31 January 2023, Col 4
CMAL suggested it was not against catamarans.