Scottish hauliers fear EU ferry tender plan will not cut fares
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• Scottish hauliers say they are resigned to continued high ferry prices around the Highlands and Islands, even if the much-criticised ferry firm Caledonian MaeRrayne (Cal Mac) loses its monopoly in the region as a result of a new ruling by the EU.
The EU wants all subsidised ferry routes, such as Cal Mac, to be put out to tender to encourage competition.
But Tony Morrow, owner of Isle of Arran-based Arran Deliveries, says it could be a case of 'better the devil you know". Although Cal Mac charges high prices," he says. "Most of the hauliers up here will be happy to look at any alternatives. However, these routes are not money spinners and it will be hard to see a reduction in prices."
Isle of Arran haulier Donald Rannatyne, of Arran Haulage Services, is also keen to see the tendering process unfold but echoes Morrow's view: "The best we can hope for is that fares will remain stable. I don't see a massive change—a service provider is a service provider."
The Scottish Office says it is attempting to convince the EU that the ferry network in Scotland should be tendered as a whole rather than being split up, to prevent cherrypicking of the most profitable routes. A spokesperson says the EU is considering this proposal.
Cal Mac says any accusations that the firm Is not running affordable services are "out of order".