A Mull and Iona ferry group looks into running a catamaran service as an alternative to CalMac.
Islanders who are frustrated at the unreliability of CalMac ferries are looking to set up their own service.
The group argues the existing decision-making process is too centralised and officials are unwilling to embrace alternative viewpoints for improving the main Oban to Craignure route. CMAL's preference is for ships with on-board accommodation for all the crew, which it argues is good for resilience if a ship has to divert due to bad weather or has to be redeployed across the ferry network.
Supporters of catamarans say they provide high car-carrying capacity and fuel efficiency at a far reduced cost when compared with the traditional mono-hulled ships favoured by CMAL. Supporters of unbundling say that splitting the 25 routes in the Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Service contract into smaller chunks would encourage competition and lead to more innovative solutions. They point out that Norway, which has an extensive ferry network, takes a far more decentralised approach.
Transport Scotland said it did "not recognise" some of the criticisms being made by the island ferry committee.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
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