Greene: Scottish Government must get a grip on MV Glen Sannox fiasco

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Jamie Greene has called on the SNP to finally get to grips with the troubled MV Glen Sannox ferry service between Troon and Arran. 

The Glen Sannox has been put out of action again with reported engine trouble, described by CalMac as a “recurring technical issue,” leaving coastal and island communities stranded. 

The vessel has been plagued with problems and cancellations since finally coming into service in 2025, seven years later than scheduled and four times over budget. 

Mr Greene, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Inverclyde, urged the Scottish Government to abandon its ad hoc approach to Scotland’s ferries. 

At the Scottish Parliament election, voters across Scotland can use their peach regional ballot paper to elect a Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP committed to improving local transport links and getting Scotland moving again. 

In the next Parliament, Scottish Liberal Democrats will push for a new Ferries Bill to guarantee service for island communities, new strict vessel replacement requirements, and expanding the compensation scheme to cover many more victims of the SNP’s ferries fiasco. 

Jamie Greene said:

“Hearing that the MV Glen Sannox is out of action will further frustrate the communities and businesses that depend on this essential route, who have already been let down repeatedly by the SNP.

“From launching vessels with painted on windows, failing to deal with cancellations, and putting in place an inadequate compensation scheme, the Scottish Government has shown it cannot be trusted with this essential transport infrastructure. 

“At the election, voters have the chance to tell the SNP that they’ve run out of patience and back the Scottish Liberal Democrats, particularly on the second peach regional ballot paper, to deliver a real plan to get Scotland moving again.”