About Us

Previously Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd provided the majority of Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and owned the associated vessels and a number of the harbour facilities. The company was wholly owned by Scottish Ministers with these services requiring an annual revenue deficit grant from the Scottish Executive to maintain lifeline service levels.

However in order to comply with European guidelines on State Aids in Maritime Transport, an open public tender was deemed necessary in respect of these ferry services. The then Scottish Executive tendered the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) as a single bundle, with the exception of the Gourock-Dunoon service.

In recognition of the uniqueness of the fleet and in order to ensure a level playing field for all bidders, on 1 October 2006 Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd was split into two companies:

• an asset-owning company, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL).

• and a new operating company, CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL).

• This was done by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd transferring its operations - but not its assets - to CFL.

• Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, now CMAL, continues to own all vessels and land-based assets (ports, harbours, etc) and makes them available to an operator through an open tendering process.

• For six years starting 01 October 2007 CalMac Ferries Limited continues to operate the services having won the tendering process with their bid. Under the terms of the tender CFL is bound to use the vessels of CMAL.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, like CalMac Ferries Ltd, is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder. The Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited Board has appointed an executive management team and supporting staff at its headquarters is in Port Glasgow.