Aggression towards CalMac staff is not acceptable

As disruption affects various ferry routes this week, CalMac have issued a request for customers to be patient with our teams who work at ports and on vessels.

Fiona Galbraith, CalMac’s Area Operations Manager for the Hebrides and Skye, said: "We know how much the community relies on ferry services, and understand the frustration and anger at the Lochboisdale service being cancelled for a week. Our teams, all of whom call the local area home, share this disappointment and we all hope normal service can be restored as quickly as possible.

"While most people understand that technical problems and service disruption is absolutely not the fault of port staff and crew, we have had multiple instances of these frontline teams being subjected to unacceptable abuse and name-calling. Nobody should have to deal with that when they are trying to do their job, and I would urge everyone to treat our hard-working people with respect.

"Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.”