Newsletter

March 2026

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From the helm

We hear from our Chief Executive, Kevin Hobbs, on a decade of investment in port infrastructure

News and views

Catch up with the latest CMAL news you might have missed.

Meet the board

This month meet one of our board members—Director of Port Infrastructure and Planning, Ramsay Muirhead.

Behind the scenes

From Surveys to Spades—Laying the groundwork for harbour upgrades

From the helm

—Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive of CMAL

In recent weeks, we have welcomed MV Isle of Islay home to Scotland. Seeing her arrive in Scottish waters, and the sense of anticipation around her entry into service marked more than the arrival of a new vessel—it marked progress. As the first of four vessels being delivered from Turkey, she represents renewal, resilience and is a tangible result of our commitment to Scotland’s island communities.

While new vessels understandably capture public attention, they are only one part of the story. A lifeline ferry service also requires sustainable, resilient port infrastructure to meet the boat at each end of its journey.

Over the past decade, alongside significant fleet investment, CMAL has undertaken one of the most substantial periods of port and harbour development in its history. It is work that is often less visible, but absolutely critical to the strength of the network.

Since 2016, our 26 port facilities across the West Coast have seen transformative change. From the full redevelopment of Brodick Ferry Terminal and Tarbert (Harris), to the rebuild of Wemyss Bay pier and fender systems, we have modernised infrastructure that, in many cases, was reaching the end of its operational life. We have strengthened linkspans in Coll and Tiree, extended marshalling in Oban, upgraded slipways at Colintraive and Rhubodach, and improved traffic management and parking at Armadale. New terminal buildings have been delivered at locations including Fishnish, Portavadie and Largs, while projects such as the Cumbrae redevelopment continue to progress.

These are not cosmetic upgrades. They are long-term investments designed to last 50 to 60 years. They ensure our harbours can accommodate larger, more energy-efficient vessels and support emerging technologies such as shore power. The interface between vessel and port is increasingly important as we decarbonise our fleet and employ more shore power, which reduces emissions at berth, cuts noise pollution and lowers the carbon footprint of operations.

For our Small Vessel Replacement Programme, it is the charging infrastructure that enables electric ferries to operate effectively. Ports are no longer passive endpoints; they are a key deliverable in sustainability efforts.

The recent funding and contractor award announcement for Port Ellen is another significant milestone in this journey. This redevelopment will include significant land reclamation to enhance marshalling capacity, improve passenger facilities and futureproof the harbour for the next generation of vessels.

Alongside these major projects, we are consistently carrying out essential maintenance and repair work. Across our 26 facilities, we invest a significant sum each year in inspection, maintenance and reactive works. Every harbour is monitored through a structured assessment programme, with issues prioritised according to their impact on lifeline service continuity. This risk-based approach ensures that problems are addressed before they become disruptions and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to keeping the network resilient day in, day out.

We also recognise that the ferry network extends beyond the ports we own. Our vessels operate across council, trust and privately owned facilities, and we maintain regular dialogue with these partners to ensure alignment between vessel capability and harbour readiness. A joined-up approach across the whole network is essential if lifeline services are to remain dependable.

This collaborative approach is also reflected in the work with the Scottish Government to progress the purchase of Ardrossan Harbour, unlocking future redevelopment and strengthening a key mainland gateway for ferry services.

Reflecting on the past decade, I am struck by the scale of change. While vessels may draw the most headlines, ports and harbours provide the foundations. Without robust infrastructure at both ends of a route, even the finest ferry cannot deliver for communities.

The job is never truly finished, as infrastructure requires continual renewal and care. But by investing steadily in redevelopment, maintenance and futureproofing, we are ensuring that Scotland’s ferry network remains resilient and ready for the decades ahead.

News and views

Heb Isles being towed from King George V dock by harbour tug

Meet the board

Ramsay Muirhead

After nearly 17 years at CMAL, Ramsay Muirhead has witnessed first-hand how Scotland’s ferry ports and harbours have evolved to meet the changing needs of the network. As Director of Port Infrastructure and Planning, he oversees the development and maintenance of CMAL’s harbour assets across Scotland’s west coast.

In recent years, Ramsay says CMAL has refined how it organises infrastructure investment across its portfolio. “Our planning and project prioritisation process has been updated to better align with both the Scottish Government and CMAL’s strategic aims”, he explains. “Given the number of assets across the network, managing the work we undertake in order of priority is key to ensuring we deliver the best value for public investment.”

Reflecting on his professional development, Ramsay says that one of the most valuable aspects of his role has been building a deeper understanding of Scotland’s ferry infrastructure. Over time, visiting harbours, meeting staff and engaging with stakeholders across the islands has helped shape his understanding of how these assets operate, and the environmental and user demands placed upon them.

This understanding has also been strengthened through closer engagement with CMAL’s supply chain. By working more collaboratively with contractors and consultants, Ramsay draws on industry expertise to inform key decisions – from the materials used in construction to how infrastructure can be designed to withstand the impacts of rising sea levels. This collaborative approach helps ensure projects are delivered efficiently while supporting long-term resilience.

Looking back at the many projects he has been involved with, Ramsay highlights the Brodick terminal refurbishment, completed in 2018, as one of the most memorable. As CMAL’s largest port redevelopment to date, it brought together teams from across the organisation and provided lessons that continue to shape how projects are delivered today.

For Ramsay, the most rewarding part of any project comes at the end – returning to a harbour and seeing the finished infrastructure in use. “After years of planning, consultation and construction, it’s incredibly rewarding to go back and see what we’ve delivered”, he says. “I don’t think it’s lost on anyone at CMAL just how important the ferry services are, so getting to see projects through to the end is a reminder that the work we do has a real impact for the communities who rely on these services every day.”

Behind the scenes

From Surveys to Spades—Laying the groundwork for harbour upgrades

—Paul Colenso, Lead Engineering Manager

When our intention to upgrade a harbour is announced, the first question we’re asked is “When will the construction begin?” I understand why—island communities want to know how and when their travel routes will be impacted.

But we don’t just pick a harbour to renovate at random. We carry out year-round maintenance across the network and maintain comprehensive risk registers that monitor the condition and future of each port and harbour. New vessels, existing infrastructure, climate change, and passenger usage forecasts are all considered in long-term planning, and there are extensive criteria for determining the priority order of harbour upgrade works.

Once a need has been identified, we explore a range of early-stage options and assess them against Transport Scotland’s Transport Planning Objectives, which help to determine the best long-term solution for ferry services, communities and the public purse.

Of course, engaging with those who rely on the harbour every day is an essential part of the process, so we establish a Project Reference Group early on, bringing together members of ferry committees, the local council, fishing communities and other harbour users. We arrange community drop-in sessions and consultation surveys to capture the practical insights that only regular users of the infrastructure can provide. Building this rapport with the local community ensures their concerns are understood and taken on board, giving them a voice in the future of their ports and harbours

The Port Ellen terminal redevelopment project on Islay illustrates how valuable that dialogue can be. During early discussions, community members emphasised the importance of a comprehensive and future-proofed design, rather than returning later for further upgrades, which can cause major disruption. Given that our harbour infrastructure is typically designed to last around 65 years, that perspective reinforced the importance of developing a solution that will stand the test of time.

Community feedback can also shape the design itself. At Port Ellen, discussions highlighted the need to minimise walking distances between the ferry and the terminal building. As a result, the redevelopment will include a larger ferry terminal building with a shorter walk to where users will board vessels. CMAL’s harbours are used by individuals with a variety of accessibility needs, from wheelchair users to passengers with limited mobility or visual impairments, so these practical considerations are vital to improving the overall passenger experience.

But our responsibility extends beyond considering the needs of the harbour itself. These ports provide lifeline connections for island communities and the businesses that rely on them, so we work closely with local stakeholders to minimise disruption where possible. During consultation for Port Ellen, residents raised concerns about travel interruption during Fèis Ìle, Islay’s internationally renowned whisky festival. With this in mind, construction has been scheduled to begin after the festival concludes at the end of May.

While understanding a harbour’s role within its community helps establish the business case for a project, technical investigation ensures those needs translate into a practical and resilient engineering solution.

Ground investigations, marine surveys and wave modelling help our engineers to understand the environmental conditions of each site. No two ports are the same, and factors such as seabed conditions, tidal patterns, and local ecosystems vary widely across Scotland’s coastline. These inspections not only shape the final design but also inform the necessary environmental assessments and marine licenses required before construction can begin. Although this can be time-consuming, it’s a crucial step to ensure each project is responsibly developed and suited to its surroundings.

This thorough, early planning process explains why harbour projects can take years to reach construction. By investing in careful planning, meaningful engagement and robust technical assessment, CMAL ensures that when construction is ready to start, it delivers infrastructure that is resilient, efficient and capable of supporting Scotland’s ferry network well into the future.