THE Scottish government has today launched a £4.4 million support fund for island businesses most affected by years of disruption on West Coast ferry services.

The Island Business Resilience Fund will offer grants of up to £35,000 to businesses such as those reliant on tourism or working in the manufacture or movement of perishable goods, such as seafood.

But the payments will be restricted to businesses on South Uist, Colonsay, North Uist, Eriskay, Benbecula, Berneray, Grimsay and Arran, islands which have suffered more than 15 per cent disruptions to their lifeline ferry services over the past three years.

This compares to the 7 per cent experienced across the Scottish government-owned CalMac ferry service as a whole, as it struggled with an ageing fleet as replacement ferries, the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, ran seven years late.

Launching the scheme, managed by managed by Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and open from July 2 until September 1, SNP Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Reliable and regular ferry services are key to this connectivity for people and businesses and we know that the current situation of delays and ongoing maintenance to some vessels has created real difficulties for some.

“We are determined to do everything we can to support islands, their local businesses and employers through these challenging times.”

HIE’s Rachel Hunter added: “Island businesses and social enterprises make an important contribution to local economies and provide vital rural employment that helps sustain many communities.

“Our focus will be assessing applications promptly so that funding can be awarded as soon as possible after the closing date.”

Socialist MSP Katy Clark, who represents both Arran and the beleaguered mainland port of Ardossan, told the Star: “While of course any compensation is welcome, this amount fails to reflect the extent of the damage which has been caused to the Arran and Ardrossan communities and economies as a result of ferry disruption in recent years. 

“Ferry breakdowns due to the age of the fleet and no ferries at all running currently from Ardrossan to Arran are due to the Scottish government commissioning ferries which don’t fit into Ardrossan port and then failing to ensure that the necessary upgrading work took place.

“This has devastated Ardrossan port and caused regular havoc and distress on Arran.”