CalMac ferry deal to run for another six months

Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland.

1. Transport Scotland and CalMac have agreed to extend the charter of the MV Alfred ferry for a further six months.

The vessel, owned by Pentland Ferries, has been on loan to the national fleet since April last year. The deal was due to end on August 21 but will now run until March 2025.

The ferry has mainly run between Brodick, on Arran, and the Ardrossan and Troon ports on the mainland.

Duncan Mackison, the interim chief executive at CalMac, said: “MV Alfred has proven to be an invaluable addition to our fleet during a particularly challenging period, and we are pleased this extension will see her