How does the CalMac performance regime work?

The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract requires that we achieve certain levels of reliability and punctuality and we are financially penalised for cancellations or delays for which we are responsible, ie, technical faults. However, we are not penalised for other events such as extreme weather, coastguard emergencies, non-availability of harbours etc., over which we have no control.

It is industry practice not to tie performance to safety so there can be no incentive to operate when it is unsafe to do so which is why cancellations or delays due to extreme weather, etc  are not included in reliability or punctuality figures.