Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has called for transparency in the funding and ownership row surrounding the MV Loch Seaforth.
This comes after the news Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), a wholly- owned public corporation of the Scottish Government, does not own the MV Loch Seaforth, which operates on the Ullapool to Stornoway crossing.
Mrs Grant said: ‘Not only are the communities and businesses of the Western Isles being subjected to the failing attempts to provide lifeline services, we have recently witnessed debilitating situations with ferries being damaged while attempting to dock in safe environments, being removed from service without consultation, suffering a major mid-sailing breakdown of the Theet’s flagship vessel with 345 people on board, without proper answers. We are now subject to the revelation CMAL does not, and appears never to be able to, own the MV Loch Seaforth.’