Scotland’s island communities rely on ferries, and while the challenges on the network are well documented, significant efforts are being made to enhance and modernise these vital services.

More than half of the vessels on the Clyde and Hebrides network will be replaced by the end of the decade, and with that comes upgrades to the harbours to support them. The question is: should investment prioritise new ferries, or port upgrades?

In an ideal world, both would be developed in tandem. But due to a range of factors, that's not always possible.

One of the major investment projects currently underway is the Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP), which will see 10 new electric ferries join the fleet, serving the smaller islands. Seven small vessels will be replaced in phase one, followed soon after by another three vessels in phase two. This means that 60% of the "loch class" vessel fleet in Scotland will be replaced.

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