CalMac and CMAL officials' costly visit to oversee building of 4 ships

MORE than £1million has been spent sending CalMac and CMAL staff to Turkey to oversee the construction of four new ferries, a freedom of information request revealed.

- BY CRAIG MEIGHAN

The companies, which operate and manage Scotland's nationalised ferry networks, have spent a total of £1,016,162 on remuneration, subsistence, accommodation, flights and car hires on staff visiting the Turkish yard since 2022.

CalMac sent eight staff over to Turkey, spending £845,981, while £170.18i was spent on five CMAL employees.

One Ferguson Marine employee was also sent to Turkey but the costs were covered by CMAL.

The Scottish Conservatives, who obtained the figures, said taxpayers were being "left to pick up the tab" for the SNP's "ferries fiasco which has left islanders without the vessels they need".