Professor launches an attack on Scottish ferry links

FERRY links in Scotland have been compared to those of a "less developed country" by an expert in maritime transport.

Professor Alf Baird said vessels were out of date and did not link properly to mainland train or bus connections. The claim was made as the boss of a major ferry operator warned that half of its ports would need work soon to keep them in a safe condition.

Prof Baird, of Napier University, told MSPs on a Scottish Parliament committee that routes across the country should be opened to tender and urged government to "get out" of shipping.

The former shipping clerk said a "level playing field" should be created in the subsidised sector and added: "We don't expect the state to provide buses, train services, aircraft, so why should we expect the state to provide vessels and to employ everyone who works on the boats?"

He made the claim to Holyrood's Transport Committee which is conducting an inquiry into ferry services in Scotland.