Ardrossan harbour to be taken into public ownership

Ardrossan harbour is to be nationalised with the Scottish government's ferries and ports agency expected to finalise the deal this month, the transport secretary has announced

Fiona Hyslop said negotiations between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and owner Peel Ports have now concluded.

The government has been forced to buy the harbour because new CalMac ferries ordered by CMAL for the Arran route are too big to berth safely at the existing facilities and it needs extensive redevelopment.

Hyslop did not confirm how much the sale would cost but said negotiations had been "complex" but would bring "wider benefits" to ferry services in the long term.

CMAL is entirely owned by the Scottish government, and Hyslop revealed it had been necessary to make a "shareholder directive" to the CMAL board to conclude the deal.

Hyslop said the port would remain the main port for ferry services from the mainland to Arran.

Speaking in Holyrood, Hyslop said: "This purchase will secure the port in public ownership to allow us to focus on the redevelopment of the facility as the primary mainland port for Arran.

"There is work to be done to move forward to tender for the port redevelopment, but CMAL are already considering short term work to ensure resilient operations whilst the MV Caledonian Isles continues to operate from Ardrossan and we are committed to funding a two port service until the major work starts."

Since entering service last January, Glen Sannox, one of Scotland's new ferries has been forced to sail from Troon, about 15 miles further south.

The Save Ardrossan Harbour campaign has complained that the town has suffered economic damage due to a lack of footfall and fewer islanders travelling to use businesses such as dentists or garages.

Ardrossan offers the fastest and most direct route from the mainland to Arran, although the harbour's shallow depth and layout makes it tricky to navigate in high winds.

The new ship is 102.4m (335.9ft) long, while the main Arran Berth at Ardrossan is only 97m (318ft) long.

Major redevelopment work, which according to some estimates could cost around £80m, is needed at Ardrossan to ensure the Glen Sannox, and its sister ship Glen Rosa when it arrives can berth at the port safely.

The current owners, Peel Ports as well as the Scottish government and North Ayrshire council had disagreed on how this bill should be split.