David MacBrayne Ltd, the parent company of Scotland's main ferry

operators, NorthLink Ferries Ltd (NFL) and CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) is

being restructured as part of its preparations for the re-tendering later

this year of their current contracts which end in 2012 and 2013

respectively.

Under the proposed changes, which start to come into effect from April 1,

2009, the new DML Group's role will be to address policy and strategy

matters, and a number of staff who provide support in areas like Finance

will work across the group.

Chairman Peter Timms said: "These changes have been under consideration

since the creation of NFL and CFL and are an essential part of our plans

to ensure the group is in the best possible shape to win the next round of

tenders. This is the latest stage of the process begun in 2006 when the then

Caledonian MacBrayne was restructured in preparation for the Clyde & Hebrides

Ferry Services tender, following our successful NorthLink bid to operate the

Northern Isles services, and will allow us to concentrate on delivering the

ferry services to the best of our ability for the remaining duration of the

respective contracts."

As part of the restructure, Lawrie Sinclair, currently Managing Director

of CalMac Ferries Ltd, will be appointed Group Chief Executive and CFL

Operations Director, Philip Preston and NFL Chief Executive, Bill Davidson

will be appointed Managing Directors of their respective companies. In

addition, non-executive Director David McGibbon will be appointed Deputy

Chairman of David MacBrayne Ltd.

Ends.

Notes to editors

1. David MacBrayne Ltd is owned by Scottish Ministers, and in 2006 as part

of the restructuring required in preparation for the tender processes for the

Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services and the Northern Isles ferry services contracts

became the parent company of both CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd

2. CalMac Ferries Ltd provides lifeline passenger, vehicle and shipping services

to the islands off the West Coast of Scotland and in the Clyde estuary. It operates 31

vessels on 24 routes.

3. NorthLink Ferries Ltd

NorthLink Ferries limited operates lifeline ferry services to the Northern

Isles (Orkney & Shetland). It operates five vessels between Aberdeen,

Kirkwall and Lerwick, and from Scrabster in Caithness, to Stromness in

Orkney.

4. Caledonian MacBrayne and CalMac are trading names of CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL).

These names are used under licence from Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).

The lion rampant device is used by CFL with the permission of CMAL.

For further information, contact:

David Cannon,

Group Public Affairs Manager,

David MacBrayne Ltd

Tel: 01475 650371

Mob: 07595 092332

david.cannon@calmac.co.uk

Or for NorthLink;

Derek Douglas,

Beattie Communications - NorthLink,

Tel: 0131 339 6093

Mob: 07730 415092

derek.douglas@beattiegroup.com