Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne announces that it has today (Monday 3 December) opened its summer 2008 reservations system.

Confirming the opening of the system, Operations Director Phil Preston said: “I am delighted to announce that we are opening our summer 2008 reservations system today. Customers can now make bookings for their travel arrangements next year, and I would encourage people to make their bookings as early as possible to avoid disappointment. By doing that and making the payment at the time of booking, it gives everyone a better chance to plan ahead and secure the bookings wanted.”

CalMac recently launched its 2008 Explore brochure, the company’s main leisure brochure and an essential planning tool for everyone interested in travelling to the 24 destinations in CalMac’s network. The brochure also includes CalMac’s timetables from 21 October 2007 to 20 March 2008 (Winter) and 21 March 2008 to 18 October 2008 (Summer) and a selection of accommodation advertisers.

CalMac’s Communications Director, Hugh Dan MacLennan, said “Our “Explore” brochure is now very much a one-stop-shop for people planning a trip to Scotland’s Clyde and Hebridean islands. People can request a copy of the brochure from our website, www.calmac.co.uk, where they’ll also find a wealth of information about CalMac’s network, as well as advertisements for accommodation across the Clyde and Hebridean islands. We have again seen large increases in the number of people visiting www.calmac.co.uk to plan their trips. In 2007, the monthly average number of page impressions rose to 824,492, with May to August each seeing over 1 million page impressions. The total for the calendar year to the beginning of December is 9,893,902 and it would be fantastic if we could raise that figure to the 10 million mark over a twelve month period.”

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Issued: Monday 3 December 2007, 1500

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Background note:

Until 1 October 2006, Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd provided the majority of Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and owned the associated vessels and a number of the harbour facilities. That company was wholly owned by Scottish Ministers. These services required an annual revenue deficit grant from the Scottish Executive to maintain lifeline service levels.

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 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. From 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 and the predecessor to them both, Caledonian MacBrayne 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.

NorthLink Ferries Ltd. took over operation of the Northern Isles ferry services from the predecessor operator, NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Ltd, on 6 July 2006.

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For further information on the contents of this News Release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Communications Director, Caledonian MacBrayne. Tel: 0776 435 4021; e-mail hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk.

Caledonian MacBrayne and CalMac are trading names of CalMac Ferries Limited.

Issued: Monday, 3 December 2007 : 1500