Chapter 09 - Water Transport

Chapter 09 - Water Transport

1. Introduction

1.1 This chapter provides information about foreign and domestic freight traffic at Scottish ports and inland waterways by type of freight and country of origin and destination. It also includes statistics on passengers and vehicles carried on ferry routes operating in Scotland and routes between Scotland and Northern Ireland and Europe as well as some statistics on HM Coastguard search and rescue operations.

1.2 Port traffic statistics methodology changed in 2000, to comply with the requirements of a new EC Maritime Statistics Directive. This produced large changes in the figures for one-port and coastwise traffic, and in the split between domestic and foreign traffic, between 1999 and 2000. Details of the method and notes on the effect of the change are given in the water transport section of the user guide.

1.3 From 2015 DfT no longer publish a Scottish data for coastwise, one port and inland waterway traffic and we are unable to update tables 9.1, 9.9 and 9.11 as fully as we previously did.

Transport and travel habits in Scotland were profoundly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with restrictions on travel and daily activity in place for large parts of 2020. However, with restrictions being lifted in 2021 travel patterns started to recover.

Key Points

  • There were 58 million tonnes of freight handled by ports in Scotland in 2021.
  • There was a total of 6.3 million passengers and 2.6 million vehicles carried on ferry routes within Scotland in 2021.
  • There were 1.4 million passengers and 0.44 million vehicles carried between Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2021.

2. Main Points

Freight Tonnage

2.1 Exports through major (see section 9.16.3 page 278) Scottish ports rose from 61 million tonnes in 1997 to 68 million tonnes in 2002 before steadily falling to 26 million tonnes in 2021 (there has been a 22% fall in the last ten years) - eight ports were counted as major ports in 1997 and 1998, there were nine in 1999 and 11 from 2000 onwards. Imports totalled 11 million tonnes, considerably less than the volume of exports. (Table 9.2)

2.2 Waterborne freight (both incoming and outgoing) passing through all ports decreased by 1.5% in 2020 to 58 million tonnes. This was 25% less than in 2010, continuing a steady fall. In 2021, the eleven major ports accounted for 94% of the total traffic through Scottish ports. Exports accounted for 48% of the total freight through major Scottish ports and domestic traffic accounted for 32%. Imports, and incoming domestic freight were much lower, together accounting for 32% of the total freight through major Scottish ports. (Table 9.2)

Ports and Destinations

2.3 Forth (20 million tonnes) and Clyde (8 million tonnes) accounted for the highest freight traffic in 2021. Forth traffic is 14% lower than 2020, and is 29% below 2011. Clyde's freight traffic has fluctuated between 2011 and 2021, falling overall from 13 million tonnes to 8 million tonnes in 2021. Again, as these figures are for the total volume of traffic, they are unaffected by the change in the method of compiling the statistics. (Table 9.3)

2.4 Bulk fuel accounted for 33 million tonnes (60%) of the total traffic through major Scottish ports in 2021. (Table 9.4)

2.5 Top ports for foreign traffic were: Forth (18.3 million tonnes); Clyde (6.3 million tonnes) and Sullom Voe (4.9 million tonnes). Clyde (5.6 million tonnes) and Forth (4.1 million tonnes) together accounted for almost all the imports from foreign traffic. Glensanda (2.8 million tonnes), Cairnryan (1.7 million tonnes), Aberdeen (1.4 million tonnes) and Loch Ryan (1.3 million tonnes), had most outward domestic traffic; Cairnryan (1.5 million tonnes) and Loch Ryan (1.4 million tonnes) were the main ports for inwards domestic traffic. (Table 9.6b)

2.6 The main types of traffic through the major ports in 2021 were crude oil (24 million tonnes), other dry bulk (8 million tonnes) and oil products (6 million tonnes). (Table 9.7)

2.7 In 2021 most exports were destined for Netherlands (8.5 million tonnes), Asia (5.5 million tonnes), Germany (3.5 million tonnes) and Belgium (2.6 million tonnes) while most imports arrived from the USA (2.2 million tonnes) and the Norway (2 million tonnes). (Table 9.8)

Passenger Services

Routes to Northern Ireland and Europe

2.8 In 2021, 1.4 million passengers were carried on ferry services between Scotland and Northern Ireland. There were 0.44 million vehicles carried between Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2021, a 76 per cent increase on 2020. Until its closure in 2018 the Rosyth to Zeebrugge freight route was the only ferry route between Scotland and Europe. (Tables 9.13 (a) & (b))

Routes within Scotland

2.9 This section covers all routes within Scotland for which data is available, for example data is not available for Pentland Ferries. These statistics include routes within Scotland that are subsidised by Scottish Government, local authority ferry services and privately run services. More detail is available in the water transport section of the user guide.

2.10 There were 6.3 million passengers carried on routes within Scotland in 2021, a rise of 54 per cent compared to 2020 and 26 per cent below the recent peak in numbers in 2007. Caledonian MacBrayne carried 4 million of these passengers (63%) and Western Ferries carried a further 17 per cent on the Gourock-Dunoon route. (Table 9.12a)

2.11 There were 2.6 million vehicles carried on routes within Scotland in 2021, a 42 per cent increase on 2020. Of these vehicles, 51 per cent were carried by Caledonian MacBrayne and a further 21 per cent by Western Ferries on the Gourock-Dunoon route. (Table 9.12b)

Operators on subsidised routes within Scotland

2.12 Caledonian MacBrayne ferries carried 4 million passengers in 2021, 1.6 million (67%) more than in 2020. There were 1.3 million cars carried, (57%) more than 2020, and 85,000 commercial vehicles and buses, 21% more than 2020. (Table 9.14a)

2.13 Serco Northlink Ferries carried 230,000 passengers in 2021, a 88 per cent increase compared to 2020. There were 63,000 cars carried on these routes in 2021, 82% more than 2020. (Table 9.14a)

Local authority ferry services

2.14 Shetland Islands Council services carried 623,000 passengers in 2021, 33% more than 2020. There were 333,000 vehicles carried, a rise of 26% on 2020.

2.15 Orkney Ferries services carried 235,000 passengers in 2021, 38% more than in 2020. There were 81,000 vehicles carried on these routes, 23% more than the previous year. (Table 9.14b)

2.16 Ferries operated by Argyll and Bute Council carried 152,000 passengers in 2021. (Table 9.14b and 9.16a)

Ferry routes within and to/from Scotland

2.17 The busiest ferry route within Scotland in terms of passengers and vehicles carried is the service between Gourock and Dunoon, operated by Western Ferries, which carried 1.1 million passengers in 2021. There were 539,500 cars carried on this route and 26,700 commercial vehicles and buses in 2021. (Table 9.16 and Figure 9.4 and 9.5)

2.18 The second busiest Scottish ferry route over recent years in terms of passenger numbers has been the Cairnryan / Belfast route. This route carried 0.4 million passengers in 2021. (Table 9.13a and Figure 9.4)

2.19 The second busiest route in terms of cars carried was the Corran Ferry from Ardgour to Nether Lochaber operated by Highland Council with 190,000 carried in 2021. (Table 9.16 and Figure 9.5)

2.20 The busiest subsidised ferry routes are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. The busiest route in terms of passengers in 2021 was Largs - Cumbrae, with 619,095 passengers. Largs - Cumbrae was also the busiest subsidised route for car traffic in 2021 with 175,469 car crossings, an increase of 40 per cent over the previous year. (Table 9.15)

2.21 The Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme involves setting ferry fares on the basis of the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road, more detail on RET can be found in the water transport section of the user guide. The West Coast routes where Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) has been rolled out carried 1,800,500 passengers in 2021 and 624,300 cars. The Clyde routes where Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) has been rolled out carried 2,149,100 passengers in 2021 and 635,200 cars. (Table 9.15)

Ferry Punctuality

2.22 The level of reliability (the number of timetabled sailings actually operated, see table footnote in table for more detail) for Caledonian MacBrayne lifeline ferry services was 98.9% in 2021-22 and the level of punctuality (against the published timetable) was 99.6%. For Northlink the level of lifeline ferry services that were both punctual and reliable was 100% for both the Aberdeen routes and the Pentland Firth in 2021-22. (Table 9.17)

Coastguard callouts

2.23 Overall there were 4,241 incidents in 2019, 63 less than the previous year. (Table 9.18)

Notes

This worksheet contains one table.

note 1

Covers all coastwise cargo lifted in Scotland, regardless of its destination.

note 2

Covers cargoes lifted in Scotland for offshore installations and for dumping at sea.

note 3

Total of Coastwise traffic, One Port traffic and the Internal and Foreign components of Inland Waterway traffic. Excludes Coastwise and One Port components of Inland Waterway traffic to avoid double counting.

note 4

Major ports only. There were seven major ports in 1996; eight in 1997 and 1998; nine in 1999;and 11 from 2000 onwards.

note 5

Coastwise traffic, One Port traffic, the Internal component of Inland Waterway traffic, and Port exports. Excludes Coastwise and One Port components of Inland Waterway traffic to avoid double counting.

note 6

DfT have now discontinued the publication of a number of tables in their publication. We are therefore no longer able to update most of this table.

note 7

This is the total of Coastwise traffic, One Port traffic and Inland Waterway traffic. No double counting exists as the Coastwise component of Inland Waterway traffic relates to the distance travelled on inland waterways, and Coastwise traffic relates to the distance travelled at sea.

note 8

Figures for tonne-kilometres are not available for exports (and, in any case, would not be relevant to Scottish transport statistics).

note 9

Covers all coastwise cargo discharged in Scotland, whether it was loaded in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK.

note 10

One port traffic covers cargoes from offshore installations and sea dredged aggregates unloaded in Scotland; figures from 2012 subject to revision.

note 11

Information about Inland Waterway traffic discharged in Scotland is not available from the statistics compiled by DfT.

note 12

Figures for tonne-kilometres are not available for imports (and, in any case, would not be relevant to Scottish transport statistics).

note 13

Stranraer port was closed from 20 November 2011 and operations were transferred to Loch Ryan port.

note 14

Figures for 2012 may include some traffic from 2011 due to the transfer of operations from Stranraer.

note 15

The increase in tonnage on the new Loch Ryan route compared to Stranraer is due to larger ships being used.

note 16

Other West Coast ports are: Troon; Ardrishaig; Corpach; Stornoway;Kyle of Lochalsh; Girvan; Kirkudbright; Port Askaig.

note 17

Includes Rosyth, Braefoot Bay, Burntisland, Grangemouth, Hound Point, Kirkcaldy, Leith and Methil

note 18

Other East Coast ports are: Scrabster; Wick; Gills Bay; Buckie; Fraserburgh; Inverkeithing; Scalloway.

note 19

From 1995 onwards, separate figures for bulk fuel and other are available for major ports only.

note 20

Cairnryan and Peterhead did became major ports (in terms of the statistical survey) in 1997, and 1999 respectively. Dundee and Stranraer became major ports in 2000.

note 21

With effect from 1995, traffic at smaller ports is estimated.

note 22

Includes road goods vehicles, unaccompanied trailers, and shipborne port to port trailers.

note 23

Includes also Caledonian Canal, lochs Fyne, Leven and Linnhe, Moray Firth, River Tay. From 2015 the totals do not include other waterways.

note 24

Cowal Ferries operated the Gourock-Dunoon route from October 2006 until June 2011 when Argyll Ferries took over operation and carry passengers only. It is not possible to split passenger figures for 2011 between the two operators.

note 25

P&O Scottish Ferries stopped operating these services on 30 September 2002. NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Ltd operated from 1 October 2002 until 6 July 2006; NorthLink Ferries Ltd operated from 6 July 2006 until 5 July 2012; Serco NorthLink Ferries operated from 5 July 2012 to date.

note 26

Only includes main routes listed in Table 9.16.

note 27

Bruce Watt Cruises no longer operates due to retirement.

note 28

This service ceased to operate from May 2001.

note 29

No data is available for Pentland ferries.

note 30

Figures for 2020 and 2021 were affected by restrictions due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

note 31

The Stranraer - Belfast ferry service was replaced by the Cairnryan-Belfast route in November 2011.

note 32

The Troon - Larne ferry service was withdrawn in September 2015.

note 33

The Troon - Belfast ferry service was withdrawn in December 2004.

note 34

Does not include containers caried on shipborne port to port trailers. There was no service in the fourth quarter of 2008. This service closed in April 2018. The service started in May 2002. The drop in passenger numbers in 2006 follows a reduction in the frequency of the service with effect from November 2005.

note 35

These are passenger numbers only as car and commercial vehicles are not recorded.

note 36

Records for Rosyth-Zeebrugge indicate a nil return for 2004. However, there are some 4,230 units attributed to an unknown port of load/unload. We believe some element of this value includes import/export vehicles for R-Z, although we are unable to estimate what proportion.

note 37

Figures include charter and contract carryings (see table 15).

note 38

This figure only covers the routes of Mallaig to the smaller isles since the freight is lifted by crane onto the vessels rather than transported by lorry onto the ferry.

note 39

Financial year beginning 1 April of year.

note 40

Gourock-Dunoon service transferred to CalMac Ferries in January 2019.

note 41

P&O Scottish Ferries stopped operating its services on 30 September 2002.

note 42

NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Ltd operated from 1 October 2002 until 6 July 2006; NorthLink Ferries Ltd operated from 6 July 2006 until 5 July 2012; Serco NorthLink Ferries operated from 5 July 2012 to date.

note 43

Only coaches and mini-buses are included under this heading. The number of vehicles are no longer available due to a change in the method of collecting the data.

note 44

Years prior to 2006 covered the period 1 October to 30 September. Figures for 2006 relate to a financial year beginning 1 April. Figures for 2007 onwards relate to an operating year from July to June. The subsidy in 2018 has increased due to the change in Freight vessel charter arrangements.

note 45

The figures published previously for 2003 to 2005 were wrong. Corrected figures for 2003 and 2004 are not readily available.

note 46

In 2001 P&O's loose freight operations were taken over by a separate company called, Northwards, which did not provide the relevant information.

note 47

Figures include main routes only; there are smaller routes which are not included. Since 2008, no fares have been charged on two routes, the previous figures are therefore not comparable. Data for routes included in Table 16 .

note 48

Passenger figures for the Corran Ferry are first included in 2013.

note 49

Seasonal carryings.

note 50

These figures are an aggregate of the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy, Uig-Lochmaddy, Uig-Tarbert & Tarbert-Lochmaddy routes.

note 51

Berneray-Leverburgh replaced the Otternish-Leverburgh service and started in 2002.

note 52

Ballycastle-Rathlin was operated by CalMac prior to April 2007

note 53

This route was out of service between March 2003 and June 2003.

note 54

Cowal Ferries operated the Gourock-Dunoon route from October 2006 until June 2011 when Argyll Ferries took over operation and carry passengers only. It is not possible to split passenger figures for 2011 between the two operators.

note 55

The Aberdeen to Stromness route changed to Aberdeen to Kirkwall in October 2002 but the figures provided by the company for 2002 did not distinguish between the two.

note 56

Years prior to 2006 covered the period 1 October to 30 September. Figures for 2006 relate to a financial year beginning 1 April. Figures for 2007 onwards relate to an operating year from July to June. Day charters and livestock specials are included in the figures for some routes.

note 57

Route commenced May 2013.

note 58

Between 2013 and 2015 route oprated as pilot scheme on Tuesday and Saturday during winter timetable. Full service started Summer 2016.

note 59

Calmac took over the operation of this route from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in 2020. The figures for 2020 cover the period from 1 June 2020 to 31 December 2020.

note 60

Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) was introduced on these routes in October 2008

note 61

Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) was introduced on these routes in October 2012

note 62

Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) was introduced on these routes in October 2015

note 63

In addition to the routes shown in this table, there are some other routes, which have less traffic, for which the number of passengers and vehicles are included in the totals for the operator which appear in table 14. The figures for cars also include commercial vehicles which are also counted separately.

note 64

Passenger numbers prior to 1999 are based on paying passengers, but from 1999 numbers are based on a head count. There were 793,600 paying passengers in 1999.

note 65

Figures for 2000 and 2001 are estimates.

note 66

As foot passengers carried on the Corran Ferry travel for free, exact numbers are not recorded. However, an estimate of the number is included in the table.

note 67

Until 25 October 1999 this service carried pupils going to Lochaber High School. A bus service now operates to carry school pupils, which mainly accounts for the drop in passenger numbers from 1999 to 2000. Since 2006 this has carried pupils from Fort William who attend Ardnamurchan High School.

note 68

Passenger numbers in 1999 are high because of special events such as the Tall ships race.

note 69

Figures relate to financial years which start in the specified calendar year (e.g. the 1998 figure is for 1998-99). Comparable figures prior to 1998-99 are not available, because before then the numbers of passengers were counted exclusive of ZoneCard ticket holders (and therefore passengers who had a ZoneCard were not counted). SPT no longer operates the Renfrew-Yoker ferry (Clydelink have run this service commercially since April 2010).

note 70

Since 2001 the Gourock-Kilcreggan route has been tendered by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), and operated under contract by Clyde Marine and more recently by Clydelink. The SPT changed it's name to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in April 2006. Figures relate to financial years which start in the specified calendar year (e.g. the "1998" figure is for 1998-99). It was a Caledonian MacBrayne route in previous years, so figures for 2000 and earlier years appear in table 9.14. Clydelink operated this service until 12/05/2018. Clyde Marine Services Ltd have continued to operate this service from 14/05/2018 to 30/05/2020. Calmac ferries Ltd took over the operation of the route from 1/06/20.

note 71

2004 is the first full calender year of the electronic ticketing sytem and the statistics quoted for the Cuan, Easdale and Appin Services reflect the more accurate counting method.

note 72

Since 2008,there have been no fares charged on this route. This route is now Gutcher Hamarsness.

note 73

From 2008 to 2011 there were no fares charged on this route. They were reintroduced in 2012. Figures for Gutcher/Belmont to Hamarsness are included in these figures

note 74

The Gairloch to Portree service operated by West Highland Seaways was withdrawn from 22 August 2004.

note 75

Separate figures for cars/buses and commercial vehicles are only available for some Orkney Ferries services for recent years. Prior to that, only the total number of vehicles carried is available.

note 76

The operator indicated that the figure provided for buses and commercial vehicles in 2002 may not be directly comparable with previous years. Figures for 2003 onwards are not comparable with earlier years.

note 77

Data for Pentland Ferries is not available

note 78

Figures for passenger numbers on the Corran ferry service have not been included in the total for Highland council as the figures are new estimates and considered as data under development.

Table 9.1a: Waterborne freight lifted in Scotland, by type of traffic, million tonnes. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Coastwise traffic - Liquid bulks [note1] 11.12 7.22 5.93 5.41 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Coal [note1] 0.67 0.76 0.67 0.78 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Other [note1] 4.54 4.56 4.79 5.62 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Total [note1] 16.33 12.54 11.39 11.81 14.20 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - To rigs [note2] 2.42 2.57 2.10 2.19 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Sea dumped [note2] - - - - [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Total [note2] 2.42 2.57 2.10 2.19 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - Internal - - - 0.05 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - Coastwise 2.74 2.18 1.93 1.64 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - One Port 0.01 0 0.02 0.01 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - Foreign 7.95 8.61 8.74 7.71 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - Total 10.70 10.79 10.69 9.41 10.27 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
All above traffic [note3] 26.70 23.72 22.23 21.76 24.47 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Port exports [note4] 33.36 32.06 31.58 30.84 30.26 32.97 30.89 33.33 33.43 29.92 26.07
All freight lifted [note5] [note6] 52.11 47.17 45.07 44.89 44.45 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Table 9.1b: Waterborne freight moved in Scotland, by type of traffic, million tonne-kilometres. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Coastwise traffic - Liquid bulks [note1] 10,628 6,723 4,888 4,783 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Coal [note1] 303 316 277 312 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Other [note1] 2,080 2,012 2,287 2,936 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Total [note1] 13,011 9,051 7,452 8,031 11,414 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - To rigs [note2] 2,190 2,571 2,100 2,182 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Sea dumped [note2] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Total [note2] 2,190 2,571 2,100 2,182 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - Internal - - - - - - - - - - -
Inland waterway traffic - Coastwise 80 60 53 22 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - One Port - - - - [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - Foreign 190 209 209 137 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic - Total 270 269 262 234 236 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
All above traffic [note7] 15,471 11,891 9,814 10,447 11,649 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Port exports [note8] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
All freight lifted [note8] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Table 9.1c: Waterborne freight discharged in Scotland, by type of traffic, million tonnes. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Coastwise traffic - Liquid bulks [note9] 2.06 2.14 1.91 1.74 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Coal [note9] 0.08 0.01 0.02 - [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Other [note9] 3.83 4.28 3.98 4.06 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Total [note9] 5.97 6.43 5.91 5.79 4.62 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - To rigs [note10] 2.86 3.89 2.23 2.07 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Sea dredged [note10] - - - - [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Total [note10] 2.86 3.89 2.23 2.07 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic [note11] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Port imports [note4] [note6] 14.22 16.25 16.50 16.55 13.48 9.49 10.65 11.46 11.93 8.98 10.75
Table 9.1d: Waterborne freight moved in Scotland, by type of traffic, million tonne-kilometres. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Coastwise traffic - Liquid bulks [note9] 1,459 1,529 1,253 1,126 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Coal [note9] 61 9 12 - [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Other [note9] 958 1,092 986 1,017 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Coastwise traffic - Total [note9] 2,478 2,626 2,250 2,143 1,846 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - To rigs [note10] 2,885 3,898 2,241 2,091 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Sea dredged [note10] - - - - [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
One Port traffic - Total [note10] 2,885 3,898 2,241 2,091 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inland waterway traffic [note11] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Port imports [note4] [note6] [note12] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Table 9.2: Foreign and domestic freight traffic at (major) Scottish ports, thousand tonnes. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Foreign - Imports 14,216 16,254 16,501 16,554 13,481 9,486 10,649 11,462 11,932 8,981 10,752
Foreign - Exports 33,358 32,060 31,583 30,842 30,259 32,974 30,886 33,330 33,435 29,917 26,068
Foreign - Total 47,573 48,313 48,084 47,396 43,740 42,458 41,538 44,792 45,367 38,899 36,820
Domestic - Inwards 7,999 9,447 7,160 7,053 6,281 6,643 6,343 6,268 6,639 6,071 6,454
Domestic - Outwards 18,378 15,072 12,673 13,167 16,531 14,308 15,467 10,909 11,155 10,477 11,270
Domestic - Total 26,379 24,519 19,833 20,219 22,813 20,950 21,811 17,178 17,794 16,549 17,725
Total - major ports only [note4] 73,952 72,832 67,917 67,615 66,552 63,409 63,952 61,969 63,160 55,447 54,544
Total - all ports 77,414 76,139 71,639 71,381 69,968 66,692 66,985 65,083 66,761 58,962 58,078
Table 9.3: Foreign and domestic traffic by port: inwards and outwards, thousand tonnes. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Port 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Stranraer - Inwards [note13] 543 - - - - - - - - - -
Stranraer - Outwards [note13] 442 - - - - - - - - - -
Stranraer - Total traffic [note13] 986 - - - - - - - - - -
Loch Ryan - Inwards [note14] [note15] - 943 898 1,022 1,076 1,166 1,155 1,263 1,367 1,358 1,399
Loch Ryan - Outwards [note14] [note15] - 872 885 1,016 1,087 1,190 1,233 1,283 1,283 1,258 1,330
Loch Ryan - Total traffic [note14] [note15] - 1,815 1,783 2,038 2,163 2,356 2,388 2,546 2,650 2,616 2,729
Cairnryan - Inwards 1,340 1,246 1,103 1,096 1,179 1,290 1,399 1,323 1,224 1,209 1,474
Cairnryan - Outwards 1,592 1,364 1,261 1,272 1,370 1,450 1,448 1,534 1,481 1,486 1,655
Cairnryan - Total traffic 2,932 2,610 2,365 2,368 2,548 2,740 2,848 2,857 2,705 2,695 3,129
Ayr - Inwards 212 205 347 284 217 256 209 215 235 214 214
Ayr - Outwards 190 99 123 71 63 50 31 55 104 67 67
Ayr - Total traffic 402 304 470 355 280 306 240 270 339 281 281
Clyde - Inwards 9,981 12,026 12,148 13,221 9,678 6,273 6,500 6,825 6,700 5,119 6,595
Clyde - Outwards 3,450 3,394 2,635 2,980 2,806 2,469 2,366 2,262 2,101 1,814 1,815
Clyde - Total traffic 13,431 15,421 14,783 16,201 12,484 8,742 8,865 9,087 8,801 6,933 8,410
Glensanda - Inwards - - - - - - - - - - -
Glensanda - Outwards 6,060 5,541 5,746 6,347 5,597 5,487 6,138 5,943 6,646 5,458 6,123
Glensanda - Total traffic 6,060 5,541 5,746 6,347 5,597 5,487 6,138 5,943 6,646 5,458 6,123
Other West Coast - Inwards [note16] 347 337 284 337 271 303 320 307 488 413 463
Other West Coast - Outwards [note16] 362 342 369 466 386 243 243 247 458 380 367
Other West Coast - Total traffic [note16] 709 680 653 803 656 546 563 554 946 793 830
Orkneys - Inwards 186 200 180 182 195 204 210 210 205 194 250
Orkneys - Outwards 2,158 1,529 874 969 3,750 4,411 4,643 3,260 2,845 2,476 2,528
Orkneys - Total traffic 2,344 1,729 1,054 1,151 3,945 4,615 4,852 3,470 3,050 2,670 2,778
Lerwick - Inwards 344 407 495 437 410 359 325 276 279 364 303
Lerwick - Outwards 241 263 328 401 336 269 279 237 269 392 256
Lerwick - Total traffic 585 670 824 838 746 629 604 513 548 756 559
Sullom Voe - Inwards 748 2,196 201 1 6 - - - - 2 2
Sullom Voe - Outwards 9,405 9,202 6,192 7,183 6,114 6,183 5,179 5,329 7,371 6,827 6,192
Sullom Voe - Total traffic 10,153 11,398 6,394 7,185 6,120 6,183 5,179 5,329 7,371 6,829 6,194
Cromarty Firth - Inwards 1,882 1,313 1,605 810 145 242 158 189 819 254 243
Cromarty Firth - Outwards 2,138 1,314 1,773 781 117 153 69 86 110 168 181
Cromarty Firth - Total traffic 4,020 2,628 3,378 1,591 262 395 227 275 929 421 424
Inverness - Inwards 437 368 409 321 394 510 421 522 460 403 586
Inverness - Outwards 162 154 155 154 172 154 144 150 185 169 181
Inverness - Total traffic 599 521 563 475 566 664 565 672 645 572 767
Peterhead - Inwards 541 584 589 768 950 695 842 732 713 582 637
Peterhead - Outwards 513 440 382 608 518 453 447 399 377 393 329
Peterhead - Total traffic 1,054 1,024 971 1,377 1,468 1,148 1,288 1,131 1,090 976 966
Aberdeen - Inwards 1,966 2,084 2,055 1,986 2,031 1,728 1,948 2,022 2,060 1,661 1,703
Aberdeen - Outwards 2,198 2,409 2,209 2,245 2,345 2,042 2,111 2,116 2,135 1,726 1,861
Aberdeen - Total traffic 4,165 4,493 4,264 4,231 4,376 3,770 4,058 4,138 4,195 3,387 3,563
Montrose - Inwards 359 336 417 452 387 362 348 402 362 322 356
Montrose - Outwards 129 182 171 150 106 142 96 132 172 237 233
Montrose - Total traffic 488 518 588 601 493 504 444 534 534 559 589
Dundee - Inwards 721 666 704 463 468 449 500 546 475 408 431
Dundee - Outwards 208 176 111 54 47 84 67 62 28 23 21
Dundee - Total traffic 929 842 815 517 515 534 566 608 503 430 452
Perth - Inwards 61 42 37 49 58 28 23 12 29 23 16
Perth - Outwards 13 19 23 12 5 5 9 - - - -
Perth - Total traffic 74 62 60 61 63 33 31 12 29 23 16
Forth - Inwards [note17] 4,307 4,442 4,177 4,056 4,035 4,080 4,286 4,621 5,010 4,266 4,473
Forth - Outwards [note17] 23,571 20,890 22,188 20,552 23,039 23,359 23,258 21,966 20,211 18,766 15,304
Forth - Total traffic [note17] 27,878 25,332 26,365 24,608 27,074 27,439 27,544 26,587 25,221 23,032 19,777
Other East Coast - Inwards [note18] 302 289 326 348 345 377 344 318 323 275 269
Other East Coast - Outwards [note18] 303 263 239 284 268 224 240 241 235 255 223
Other East Coast - Total traffic [note18] 605 552 565 632 612 601 584 559 558 530 492
Scotland - Inwards 24,277 27,684 25,976 25,835 21,845 18,322 18,986 19,781 20,748 17,067 19,414
Scotland - Outwards 53,135 48,454 45,663 45,546 48,126 48,368 47,999 45,302 46,012 41,895 38,665
Scotland - Total traffic 77,414 76,139 71,639 71,381 69,968 66,692 66,985 65,083 66,761 58,962 58,078
Table 9.4: Foreign and domestic freight traffic by port: bulk fuel and all other traffic, thousand tonnes. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Port 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Stranraer - Bulk fuel [note13] - - - - - - - - - - -
Stranraer - All other traffic [note13] 986 - - - - - - - - - -
Loch Ryan - Bulk fuel [note14] [note15] - - - - - - - - - - -
Loch Ryan - All other traffic [note14] [note15] - 1,815 1,783 2,038 2,163 2,356 2,388 2,546 2,650 2,616 2,729
Cairnryan - Bulk fuel - - - - - - - - - -  
Cairnryan - All other traffic 2,932 2,610 2,364 2,368 2,548 2,740 2,848 2,857 2,705 2,695 3,129
Ayr - Bulk fuel .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Ayr - All other traffic 402 304 470 355 280 306 240 270 339 281 281
Clyde - Bulk fuel 11,464 13,547 12,877 14,090 10,332 6,522 6,918 7,096 7,212 5,592 6,862
Clyde - All other traffic 1,967 1,874 1,906 2,111 2,152 2,220 1,947 1,991 1,589 1,342 1,547
Glensanda - Bulk fuel - - - - - - - - - - -
Glensanda - All other traffic 6,060 5,541 5,746 6,347 5,597 5,487 6,138 5,943 6,646 5,458 6,123
Other West Coast - Bulk fuel [note16] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Other West Coast - All other traffic [note16] 709 680 653 803 656 546 563 554 946 793 830
Orkneys - Bulk fuel 2,096 1,487 825 918 3,689 4,348 4,585 3,194 2,778 2,414 2,475
Orkneys - All other traffic 248 242 229 233 256 267 267 276 273 256 303
Lerwick - Bulk fuel .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Lerwick - All other traffic 585 670 824 838 746 629 604 513 548 756 559
Sullom Voe - Bulk fuel 10,134 11,339 6,352 7,180 6,108 6,179 5,175 5,326 7,368 6,826 6,191
Sullom Voe - All other traffic 19 59 41 5 12 4 4 3 3 4 4
Cromarty Firth - Bulk fuel 3,821 2,410 3,181 1,339 87 207 63 24 20 23 26
Cromarty Firth - All other traffic 199 218 197 252 175 188 164 251 909 398 398
Inverness - Bulk fuel [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Inverness - All other traffic 599 521 563 475 566 664 565 672 645 572 767
Peterhead - Bulk fuel 260 282 305 236 330 443 456 471 411 382 387
Peterhead - All other traffic 794 742 667 1,141 1,138 705 832 660 678 593 579
Aberdeen - Bulk fuel 1,018 1,073 1,073 1,019 1,388 1,130 1,334 1,387 1,403 1,147 1,122
Aberdeen - All other traffic 3,147 3,420 3,190 3,212 2,988 2,640 2,724 2,751 2,792 2,239 2,441
Montrose - Bulk fuel [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Montrose - All other traffic 488 518 588 601 493 504 444 534 534 559 589
Dundee - Bulk fuel 560 457 378 169 149 137 127 137 122 73 95
Dundee - All other traffic 369 385 437 349 366 397 439 470 381 357 357
Perth - Bulk fuel .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..  
Perth - All other traffic 74 62 60 61 63 33 31 12 29 23 16
Forth - Bulk fuel [note17] 23,208 21,028 22,039 19,982 23,081 22,999 23,336 22,653 20,205 18,526 15,585
Forth - All other traffic [note17] 4,670 4,304 4,326 4,626 3,993 4,440 4,208 3,934 5,016 4,506 4,192
Other East Coast - Bulk fuel [note18] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Other East Coast - All other traffic [note18] 605 552 565 632 612 601 584 559 558 530 492
Major ports - Bulk fuel [note19] 52,561 51,623 47,030 44,933 45,164 41,965 41,994 40,288 39,519 34,984 32,743
Major ports - All other traffic 21,391 21,210 20,887 22,683 21,388 21,444 21,959 21,681 23,642 20,464 21,801
All traffic - major ports only 73,952 72,833 67,917 67,615 66,552 63,409 63,953 61,970 63,160 55,447 54,544
All traffic - all ports 77,414 76,140 71,639 71,381 69,968 66,692 66,985 65,083 66,761 58,962 58,078
Table 9.5: Foreign and domestic freight traffic by port and mode of appearance (major ports only), thousand tonnes. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Port 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Stranraer - Liquid bulk [note13] [note20] - - - - - - - - - - -
Stranraer - Dry bulk [note13] [note20] - - - - - - - - - - -
Stranraer - Container & roll on traffic [note13] [note20] 986 - - - - - - - - - -
Stranraer - Other general cargo [note13] [note20] - - - - - - - - - - -
Stranraer - All traffic [note13] [note20] 986 - - - - - - - - - -
Loch Ryan - Liquid bulk [note14] [note15] - - - - - - - - - - -
Loch Ryan - Dry bulk [note14] [note15] - - - - - - - - - - -
Loch Ryan - Container & roll on traffic [note14] [note15] - 1,815 1,783 2,038 2,163 2,356 2,388 2,546 2,650 2,616 2,729
Loch Ryan - Other general cargo [note14] [note15] - - - - - - - - - - -
Loch Ryan - All traffic [note14] [note15] - 1,815 1,783 2,038 2,163 2,356 2,388 2,546 2,650 2,616 2,729
Cairnryan - Liquid bulk [note20] - - - - - - - - - - -
Cairnryan - Dry bulk [note20] - - - - - - - - - - -
Cairnryan - Container & roll on traffic [note20] 2,932 2,610 2,364 2,368 2,548 2,737 2,847 2,857 2,705 2,695 3,129
Cairnryan - Other general cargo [note20] - - 1 - - 3 - - - - -
Cairnryan - All traffic [note20] 2,632 2,610 2,365 2,368 2,548 2,740 2,847 2,857 2,705 2,695 3,129
Clyde - Liquid bulk 5,124 5,945 5,777 6,952 6,729 6,125 6,918 7,093 7,212 5,592 6,862
Clyde - Dry bulk 7,564 8,778 8,377 8,451 4,899 1,668 1,125 1,144 818 692 833
Clyde - Container & roll on traffic 599 588 499 576 634 651 599 641 596 533 575
Clyde - Other general cargo 144 109 130 221 223 298 223 209 174 116 139
Clyde - All traffic 13,431 15,421 14,783 16,201 12,484 8,742 8,865 9,087 8,801 6,933 8,410
Glensanda - Liquid bulk - - - - - - - - - - -
Glensanda - Dry bulk 6,060 5,541 5,746 6,347 5,597 5,487 6,138 5,943 6,646 5,458 6,123
Glensanda - Container & roll on traffic - - - - - - - - - - -
Glensanda - Other general cargo - - - - - - - - - - -
Glensanda - All traffic 6,060 5,541 5,746 6,347 5,597 5,487 6,138 5,943 6,646 5,458 6,123
Orkney - Liquid bulk 2,095 1,486 824 918 3,688 4,348 4,585 3,194 2,778 2,413 2,474
Orkney - Dry bulk 25 15 11 12 16 9 9 15 9 14 55
Orkney - Container & roll on traffic 211 215 208 209 234 243 242 242 236 215 217
Orkney - Other general cargo 13 13 11 12 7 15 16 19 27 27 31
Orkney - All traffic 2,344 1,729 1,054 1,151 3,945 4,615 4,852 3,470 3,050 2,670 2,778
Sullom Voe - Liquid bulk 10,134 11,339 6,357 7,180 6,114 6,179 5,175 5,326 7,368 6,826 6,191
Sullom Voe - Dry bulk 12 57 13 - 5 4 3 3 3 3 4
Sullom Voe - Container & roll on traffic - - - - - - - - - - -
Sullom Voe - Other general cargo 7 2 24 5 - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.1
Sullom Voe - All traffic 10,153 11,398 6,394 7,185 6,120 6,183 5,179 5,329 7,371 6,829 6,194
Cromarty Firth - Liquid bulk 3,821 2,408 3,178 1,337 89 213 71 35 20 26 30
Cromarty Firth - Dry bulk 159 144 115 174 109 108 131 105 745 126 63
Cromarty Firth - Container & roll on traffic - - - - - - - - - - -
Cromarty Firth - Other general cargo 41 76 85 80 64 74 24 135 164 269 332
Cromarty Firth - All traffic 4,020 2,628 3,378 1,591 262 395 227 275 929 421 424
Peterhead - Liquid bulk [note20] 390 386 364 536 735 535 560 606 590 516 522
Peterhead -Dry bulk [note20] 158 100 53 155 97 64 32 43 59 85 42
Peterhead - Container & roll on traffic [note20] - - - - - - - - - - -
Peterhead - Other general cargo [note20] 506 538 554 686 635 549 696 483 441 374 402
Peterhead - All traffic [note20] 1,054 1,024 971 1,377 1,468 1,148 1,288 1,131 1,090 976 966
Aberdeen - Liquid bulk 1,922 2,059 1,987 1,986 2,298 2,188 2,131 2,095 2,204 1,752 1,706
Aberdeen - Dry bulk 606 439 474 487 455 367 405 519 498 344 463
Aberdeen - Container & roll on traffic 405 468 474 430 408 409 505 486 416 383 480
Aberdeen - Other general cargo 1,231 1,527 1,329 1,328 1,215 806 1,018 1,038 1,076 908 914
Aberdeen - All traffic 4,165 4,493 4,264 4,231 4,376 3,770 4,058 4,138 4,195 3,387 3,563
Dundee - Liquid bulk [note20] 571 467 379 183 157 147 145 180 156 109 133
Dundee - Dry bulk [note20] 277 294 369 259 310 304 330 354 285 275 284
Dundee - Container & roll on traffic [note20] - - - - - - - - - - -
Dundee - Other general cargo [note20] 81 82 67 75 48 82 92 74 62 46 35
Dundee - All traffic [note20] 929 842 815 517 515 534 566 608 503 430 452
Forth - Liquid bulk [note17] 23,353 20,739 22,109 20,363 23,183 23,323 23,556 22,778 21,194 19,065 15,917
Forth - Dry bulk [note17] 1,392 1,283 1,125 1,056 958 963 979 1,138 1,362 1,317 1,356
Forth - Container & roll on traffic [note17] 2,666 2,798 2,858 2,834 2,643 2,792 2,737 2,538 2,432 2,158 2,184
Forth - Other general cargo [note17] 466 512 273 355 290 361 272 132 233 491 321
Forth - All traffic [note17] 27,878 25,332 26,365 24,608 27,074 27,439 27,544 26,587 25,221 23,032 19,777
Table 9.6a: Foreign and domestic freight traffic at the major ports by type of traffic, thousand tonnes, 2020. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Port Foreign traffic - imports Foreign traffic - exports Foreign traffic - total Domestic traffic - inwards Domestic traffic - outwards Domestic traffic - total All traffic - total
Loch Ryan - - - 1,358 1,258 2,616 2,616
Cairnryan - - - 1,209 1,486 2,695 2,695
Clyde 4,401 1,003 5,405 718 811 1,529 6,933
Glensanda - 3,467 3,467 - 1,991 1,991 5,458
Orkney 5 2,284 2,289 189 192 380 2,670
Sullom Voe 2 5,532 5,534 0 1,295 1,295 6,829
Cromarty Firth 172 13 185 82 154 236 421
Peterhead 20 48 68 563 345 908 976
Aberdeen 304 353 656 1,357 1,373 2,730 3,387
Dundee 364 21 384 44 2 46 430
Forth [note17] 3,714 17,196 20,910 552 1,570 2,122 23,032
All Major Ports 8,981 29,917 38,899 6,071 10,477 16,549 55,447
Table 9.6b: Foreign and domestic freight traffic at the major ports by type of traffic, thousand tonnes, 2021. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Port Foreign traffic - imports Foreign traffic - exports Foreign traffic - total Domestic traffic - inwards Domestic traffic - outwards Domestic traffic - total All traffic - total
Loch Ryan - - - 1,398 1,330 2,729 2,729
Cairnryan - - - 1,474 1,655 3,129 3,129
Clyde 5,636 673 6,309 958 1,142 2,100 8,409
Glensanda - 3,289 3,289 - 2,834 2,834 6,123
Orkney 2 2,343 2,345 247 186 433 2,778
Sullom Voe 0 4,938 4,938 2 1,254 1,257 6,194
Cromarty Firth 200 54 255 43 127 169 424
Peterhead 22 22 43 616 307 923 966
Aberdeen 489 469 957 1,214 1,392 2,606 3,563
Dundee 331 8 339 99 13 112 452
Forth [note17] 4,071 14,273 18,344 402 1,031 1,434 19,777
All Major Ports 10,752 26,068 36,820 6,454 11,270 17,725 54,544
Table 9.7: All traffic at the major ports by mode of appearance and commodity, thousand tonnes, 2021. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Commodity Foreign traffic - imports Foreign traffic - exports Foreign traffic - total Domestic traffic - inwards Domestic traffic - outwards Domestic traffic - total All traffic - total
Liquid bulk - Liquefied gas 663 1,684 2,347 - 67 67 2,413
Liquid bulk - Crude oil 4,792 16,680 21,472 478 1,965 2,444 23,915
Liquid bulk - Oil products 1,754 1,641 3,396 1,441 1,576 3,017 6,413
Liquid bulk - Other liquid bulk products 464 81 545 117 431 548 1,093
Liquid bulk - All traffic 7,673 20,086 27,759 2,036 4,039 6,076 33,835
Dry bulk - Ores 217 495 712 - 106 106 818
Dry bulk - Coal 0 - 0 1 - 1 1
Dry bulk - Agricultural products (eg grain, soya, tapioca) 559 16 575 114 57 171 746
Dry bulk - Other dry bulk 889 3,354 4,242 541 2,873 3,414 7,656
Dry bulk - All traffic 1,664 3,865 5,529 655 3,037 3,692 9,221
Containers - 20' freight units 263 354 617 32 35 67 685
Containers - 40' freight units 395 987 1,382 38 119 157 1,540
Containers - Freight units >20' & <40' 42 100 142 1 - 1 142
Containers - Freight units >40' 203 243 446 4 30 34 481
Containers - All traffic 903 1,685 2,587 75 185 259 2,847
Roll-on/roll-off (self-propelled) - Road goods vehicles with or without accompanying trailers 0 0 0 1,500 1,602 3,103 3,103
Roll-on/roll-off (self-propelled) - Import/Export motor vehicles 0 0 0 3 4 8 8
Roll-on/roll-off (self-propelled) - All traffic 0 0 0 1,504 1,607 3,111 3,111
Roll-on/roll-off (non self-propelled) - Unaccompanied road goods trailers & semi-trailers 8 11 19 1,648 1,644 3,291 3,311
Roll-on/roll-off (non self-propelled) - Unaccompanied caravans and other road, agricultural and industrial vehicles - - - 0 2 2 2
Roll-on/roll-off (non self-propelled) - Rail wagons, shipborne port to port trailers, and shipborne barges engaged in goods transport 5 6 11 18 14 32 43
Roll-on/roll-off (non self-propelled) - All traffic 14 17 31 1,666 1,660 3,325 3,356
Other general cargo - Forestry products 171 39 210 9 - 9 219
Other general cargo - Iron and steel products 68 196 264 10 3 13 277
Other general cargo - Other general cargo & containers <20' 259 180 439 500 740 1,239 1,678
Other general cargo - All traffic 498 415 913 519 743 1,262 2,174
Total traffic 10,752 26,068 36,820 6,454 11,270 17,724 54,544
Table 9.8: Major ports traffic by cargo category and country of loading or unloading, thousand tonnes, 2021. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Country of loading or unloading Liquid bulks - Inwards to UK Liquid bulks - outwards from UK Liquid bulks - total Dry bulks - Inwards to UK Dry bulks - outwards from UK Dry bulks - total Other general cargo - Inwards to UK Other general cargo - outwards from UK Other general cargo - total Container traffic - Inwards to UK Container traffic - outwards from UK Container traffic - total Ro-Ro traffic - Inwards to UK Ro-Ro traffic - outwards from UK Ro-Ro traffic - total All traffic - Inwards to UK All traffic - outwards from UK All traffic - total
Belgium 245 1,713 1,958 51 256 308 4 40 44 217 575 793 - - - 518 2,585 3,102
Bulgaria - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cyprus - - - - - - - - - 1 - 1 - - - 1 - 1
Denmark 331 308 639 10 1 11 12 5 17 - - - - - - 354 314 668
Estonia 15 - 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - 15 - 15
Finland 38 3 41 49 - 49 38 - 38 - - - - - - 125 3 128
France 7 967 974 72 47 118 - 2 2 - 83 84 - - - 79 1,099 1,178
Germany 61 1,822 1,882 158 1,457 1,615 31 163 194 - 28 28 - - - 249 3,470 3,719
Greece 49 - 49 33 - 33 - - - - - - - - - 82 - 82
Irish Republic 3 - 3 89 - 89 - - - - 1 1 - - - 92 1 93
Italy 5 524 529 - - - 1 - 1 1 - 1 - - - 6 524 530
Latvia 8 - 8 88 11 99 28 1 29 - - - - - - 124 12 136
Lithuania 8 11 19 12 - 12 - 5 5 - - - - - - 20 16 36
Malta - 13 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13 13
Netherlands 1,054 6,239 7,292 59 1,408 1,467 3 1 4 573 855 1,428 - - - 1,688 8,503 10,191
Poland 46 79 124 4 270 274 - - - - - - - - - 50 349 399
Portugal 41 183 224 26 97 123 - - - 1 - 1 - - - 68 280 348
Romania - - - 16 - 16 - 1 1 - - - - - - 16 1 17
Spain 8 947 956 517 299 817 35 38 73 81 57 138 - - - 641 1,342 1,983
Sweden 164 179 344 4 1 5 35 - 35 - - - - - - 204 181 384
All European Union countries (as at 1 July 2013) 2,082 12,988 15,070 1,188 3,849 5,036 187 256 443 875 1,599 2,474 - - - 4,332 18,691 23,023
Azerbaidjan - - - - - - - 2 2 - - - - - - - 2 2
Egypt 10 282 292 - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 282 292
Georgia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Iceland 15 - 15 5 - 5 - 30 30 - - - - - - 21 30 51
Israel - - - - - - - - - 1 - 1 - - - 1 - 1
Morocco - 13 13 35 - 35 - - - - - - - - - 35 13 48
Norway 1,780 383 2,163 204 16 220 35 110 145 2 16 18 14 17 31 2,035 542 2,577
Russia 986 167 1,153 24 - 24 7 - 8 - - - - - - 1,018 167 1,185
Tunisia - - - 19 - 19 - - - - - - - - - 19 - 19
Turkey - 14 14 4 - 4 66 1 67 3 - 3 - - - 73 15 88
Ukraine - - - 133 - 133 - - - - - - - - - 134 - 134
All other Europe & Mediterranean 2,791 858 3,649 425 16 441 108 144 252 7 16 23 14 17 31 3,346 1,051 4,397
Angola - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cote Divoire - - - 5 - 5 - - - - - - - - - 5 - 5
Gabon - - - - - - 1 - 1 - - - - - - 1 - 1
Kenya - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nigeria 541 - 541 - - - - 5 5 - - - - - - 541 5 546
South Africa - - - - - - 2 9 11 - 69 69 - - - 2 77 79
Africa (excluding Mediterranean) 541 - 541 5 - 5 3 14 17 - 69 69 - - - 549 82 632
Argentina - - - 25 - 25 - - - - - - - - - 25 - 25
Brazil - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Canada - - - 19 - 19 5 - 5 - - - - - - 24 - 24
Colombia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mexico - - - - - - 5 - 5 - - - - - - 5 - 5
Trinidad & Tobago 73 - 73 - - - 1 - 1 - - - - - - 73 - 73
USA 2,186 701 2,887 - - - 7 - 7 - - - - - - 2,194 701 2,894
Uruguay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
All America 2,258 701 2,959 44 - 44 18 - 18 1 - 1 - - - 2,321 701 3,022
Australia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bangladesh - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
China - 3,014 3,014 - - - 122 - 122 3 - 3 - - - 125 3,014 3,139
India - 282 282 - - - - - - 2 1 3 - - - 2 283 285
Indonesia - - - - - - 6 - 6 - - - - - - 6 - 6
Japan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jordan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  
Malaysia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pakistan - - - - - - - - - 2 - 2 - - - 2 - 2
Saudi Arabia - - - - - - 10 - 10 - - - - - - 10 - 10
Singapore - 847 847 - - - - 1 1 - - - - - - - 848 848
South Korea - 1,386 1,386 - - - 6 - 6 - - - - - - 6 1,386 1,392
Sri Lanka - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Taiwan - - - - - - 5 - 5 - - - - - - 5 - 5
United Arab Emirates - - - - - - 30 - 30 - - - - - - 30 - 30
Vietnam - - - 3 - 3 3 - 3 - - - - - - 6 - 6
All Asia and Australasia - 5,528 5,528 3 - 3 181 1 183 7 1 8 - - - 191 5,530 5,722
Unspecified countries - 12 12 - - - - - - 12 - 12 - - - 12 12 24
All foreign countries 7,673 20,075 27,747 1,664 3,865 5,529 498 415 913 890 1,685 2,575 14 17 31 10,739 26,056 36,795
All domestic traffic 2,036 4,039 6,076 655 3,037 3,692 519 743 1,262 75 185 259 3,169 3,266 6,436 6,454 11,270 17,724
All foreign and domestic traffic 9,709 24,126 33,835 2,320 6,901 9,221 1,016 1,158 2,174 977 1,870 2,846 3,183 3,284 6,467 17,206 37,338 54,544
Table 9.9: Foreign and coastwise container and roll-on traffic by type. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Port 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 [note6] 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Number of containers (thousands) 269 286 268 264 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Number of wheeled vehicles (thousands) [note22] 464 473 506 476 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Total freight units (thousands) 733 759 774 740 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Container traffic weight (thousand tonnes) 2,928 3,190 3,118 3,162 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Wheeled vehicle traffic weight (thousand tonnes) [note22] 5,696 5,695 5,505 5,747 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Total traffic weight (thousand tonnes) 8,624 8,886 8,624 8,908 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Table 9.10: Inland waterway freight traffic lifted and moved. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Port 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 [note6] 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Freight lifted, River Clyde (million tonnes) 2.56 2.25 1.88 1.8 1.91 1.93 1.68 1.48 1.08 1.04 1.50
Freight lifted, River Forth (million tonnes) 7.99 8.50 8.76 7.54 8.24 8.49 8.78 8.95 8.02 6.55 6.50
Freight lifted, all waterways (million tonnes) [note23] 10.70 10.79 10.65 9.41 10.14 10.42 10.46 10.43 9.09 7.59 8.00
Freight moved, River Clyde (million tonne-kilometres) 100 89 76 74 77 78 67 59 42 41 57
Freight moved, River Forth (million tonne-kilometres) 170 178 184 158 173 178 184 188 168 138 137
Freight moved, all waterways (million tonne-kilometres) [note23] 270 269 260 234 250 257 252 247 210 178 194
Table 9.11: Inland waterway freight traffic lifted and moved in Scotland, by mode of appearance. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Freight 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 [note6] 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Freight lifted - Bulk-liquid (million tonnes) 6.18 6.97 6.84 5.31 6.49 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight lifted - Bulk-dry (million tonnes) 2.15 1.39 1.40 1.50 1.49 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight lifted - Unitised forest products (million tonnes) 0.11 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.00 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight lifted - Other semi-bulk (million tonnes) 0 0 0 0 0.00 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight lifted - Break bulk (million tonnes) 0 0 0 0 0.00 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight lifted - Other general cargo (million tonnes) 0.17 0.14 0.17 0.25 0.13 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight lifted - Unit loads (million tonnes) 2.10 2.27 2.29 2.35 2.12 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight lifted - Total (million tonnes) 10.70 10.80 10.7 9.41 10.27 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Bulk-liquid (million tonne-kilometres) 140 161 152 115 126 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Bulk-dry (million tonne-kilometres) 90 56 57 60 54 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Unitised forest products (million tonne-kilometres) - - - 2 0 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Other semi-bulk (million tonne-kilometres) 0 0 0 0 0 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Break bulk (million tonne-kilometres) 0 0 0 0 0 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Other general cargo (million tonne-kilometres) 10 4 5 8 0 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Unit loads (million tonne-kilometres) 40 48 48 50 0 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Freight moved - Total (million tonne-kilometres) 280 269 262 234 256 [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Table 9.12a: Total passengers carried by operator, thousands. Source: Ferry operators - Not National Statistics
Operator 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Caledonian MacBrayne 4,575 4,511 4,595 4,654 4,627 5,056 5,237 5,253 5,686 2,370 3,950
Cowal Ferries [note24] - - - - - - - - - - -
Argyll Ferries Ltd [note24] 409 341 299 310 306 303 302 288 - - -
P&O Scottish Ferries - - - - - - - - - - -
Serco Northlink [note25] 304 298 283 289 298 302 308 322 348 122 230
Orkney Ferries 338 336 328 320 315 329 331 339 336 170 235
Shetland Islands Council [note26] 615 811 777 762 742 775 776 764 777 467 623
Argyll & Bute Council 134 140 138 138 141 150 144 139 141 90 152
Highland Council [note27] 3 5 10 10 11 9 8 8 8 5 9
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport 58 53 57 54 54 56 41 43 41 1 -
Western Ferries 1,333 1,389 1,343 1,347 1,331 1,341 1,354 1,373 1,320 850 1,063
Bruce Watt Cruises [note28] 5 5 - - - - - - - - -
Cromarty Ferry Company - - - - - - - - - - -
West Highland Seaways - - - - - - - - - - -
Orkney Line (Previously Orcargo) [note29] .. .. .. - - - - - - - -
Total within Scotland 7,773 7,888 7,831 7,884 7,824 8,320 8,501 8,529 8,656 4,076 6,261
Scotland and Northern Ireland 1,858 1,809 1,831 1,794 1,729 1,753 1,753 1,750 1,771 850 1,391
Scotland and Europe 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 - - -
Total [note29] 9,631 9,698 9,662 9,679 9,554 10,073 10,255 10,279 10,427 4,926 7,652
Table 9.12b: Total vehicles carried by operator, thousands. Source: Ferry operators - Not National Statistics
Operator 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Caledonian MacBrayne 1,173 1,156 1,168 1,200 1,267 1,445 1,519 1,520 1,585 874 1,344
Cowal Ferries [note24] 65 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Argyll Ferries Ltd [note24] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P&O Scottish Ferries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Serco Northlink [note25] 63 61 56 56 59 63 68 72 77 35 63
Orkney Ferries 87 87 84 84 85 87 89 94 94 66 81
Shetland Islands Council [note26] 297 392 377 366 367 387 413 375 382 264 333
Argyll & Bute Council 33 33 30 33 36 43 42 41 42 32 50
Highland Council [note27] 254 253 246 259 259 263 270 272 277 127 201
Western Ferries 616 646 616 628 635 642 659 671 663 465 566
Orkney Line (Previously Orcargo) [note29] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total within Scotland 2,589 2,655 2,577 2,626 2,706 2,930 3,060 3,043 3,120 1,861 2,638
Scotland and Northern Ireland 479 412 354 408 398 408 413 405 415 252 444
Scotland and Europe 41 36 41 41 43 33 33 8 - - -
Total [note29] 3,109 3,104 2,973 3,075 3,148 3,371 3,506 3,456 3,534 2,113 3,082
Table 9.13a: Vehicle and passenger traffic between Scotland and Northern Ireland, thousands. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Route 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Cairnryan - Larne - Numbers of vehicles 153 126 117 121 119 135 136 132 123 58 110
Cairnryan - Larne - Numbers of passengers 631 524 501 492 472 536 551 521 467 242 396
Cairnryan - Belfast - Numbers of vehicles [note31] 49 239 187 237 243 273 276 273 291 194 334
Cairnryan - Belfast - Numbers of passengers [note31] 96 1,116 1,150 1,124 1,126 1,217 1,202 1,229 1,304 608 995
Campbeltown - Ballycastle - Numbers of vehicles [note32] .. ..                  
Campbeltown - Ballycastle - Numbers of passengers [note32] .. ..                  
Stranraer - Belfast - Numbers of vehicles [note31] 217 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..  
Stranraer - Belfast - Numbers of passengers [note31] 922 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..  
Stranraer - Larne - Numbers of vehicles - -                  
Stranraer - Larne - Numbers of passengers - -                  
Troon - Belfast - Numbers of vehicles [note33] .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Troon - Belfast - Numbers of passengers [note33] .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Troon - Larne - Numbers of vehicles [note32] 60 47 50 50 36 - - - - - -
Troon - Larne - Numbers of passengers [note32] 208 169 180 178 131 - - - - - -
Total - Numbers of vehicles 479 412 354 408 398 408 413 405 415 252 444
Total - Numbers of passengers 1,858 1,809 1,831 1,794 1,729 1,753 1,753 1,750 1,771 850 1,391
Table 9.13b: Vehicle and Passenger Traffic between Scotland and other EU countries, thousands. Source: Department for Transport, Maritime Statistics
Route 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Rosyth - Zeebrugge - Numbers of passengers [note34] 0.56 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.48 0.72 0.41 0.05
Rosyth - Zeebrugge - Numbers of cars [note34] 0.003 0.013 0.001 0.002 0.006 0.004 0.041 0.001
Rosyth - Zeebrugge - Roads goods vehicles [note34] 0.50 0.48 0.55 0.45 0.41 0.49 0.30 0.041
Rosyth - Zeebrugge - Unaccompanied trailers [note34] 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 1.513
Rosyth - Zeebrugge - Import/export vehicles [note34] 14 11 13 14 16 6 5 1.521
Rosyth - Zeebrugge - Unaccompanied caravans, other road, agricultural and industrial vehicles [note34] 0.016 0.028 0.039 0.064 0.095 0.068 0.011 0.003
Rosyth - Zeebrugge - Rail wagons, shipborne port to port trailers and shipborne barges engaged in goods transport [note34] 21 19 21 21 22 20 21 4.916
Lerwick - Bergen - Numbers of passengers [note35] - - - - - - - -
Lerwick - Hanstholm - Numbers of passengers [note35] - - - - - - - -
Lerwick - Torshaven - Numbers of passengers [note35] - - - - - - - -
Total passengers - Numbers of passengers 0.56 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.48 0.72 0.41 0.05
Total vehicles 41 36 41 41 43 33 33 8
Table 9.14a: Shipping services, operators on subsidised routes. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Operator Unit 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Caledonian MacBrayne Cars carried (thousands) 1,062 1,046 1,064 1,096 1,169 1,356 1,428 1,429 1,494 804 1,259
Caledonian MacBrayne Commercial vehicles and buses (thousands) 111 110 104 104 98 89 91 91 91 70 85
Caledonian MacBrayne Vehicles (Cowal ferries) (thousands) 65 27                  
Caledonian MacBrayne Vehicles (Argyll ferries) (thousands)                      
Caledonian MacBrayne Passengers ( thousands) 4,575 4,511 4,595 4,654 4,627 5,056 5,237 5,253 5,686 2,370 3,950
Caledonian MacBrayne Passengers (Cowal ferries) (thousands)                      
Caledonian MacBrayne Passengers (Argyll ferries) (thousands) 409.2 341.3 299.2 310.1 305.5 303.4 301.8 288 - - -
Caledonian MacBrayne Loose freight (calendar year thousands tonnes) [note38] 3.0 3.0 3.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5
Caledonian MacBrayne Revenue from users (thousands pounds) [note37] 58,667 62,118 64,717 67,658 66,055 63,533 69,375 73,367 75,783 41,800 70,099
Caledonian MacBrayne Subsidy (thousand pounds) [note39] 69,308 73,163 88,777 103,397 122,602 132,016 136,820 134,123 148,852 156,858 158,292
Caledonian MacBrayne Cowal ferries (subsidy) (thousands pounds) [note39] 1,008                    
Caledonian MacBrayne Argyll Ferries (subsidy) (thousand pounds) [note39] [note40] 1,309 1,616 3,037 3,542 3,440 3,633 4,052 4,905 - - -
P&O Scottish Ferries [note41] Cars carried (thousands)                      
P&O Scottish Ferries [note41] Commercial vehicles (thousands)                      
P&O Scottish Ferries [note41] Passengers (thousands)                      
P&O Scottish Ferries [note41] Loose freight [note 46]                      
P&O Scottish Ferries [note41] Revenue from users (thousand pounds)                      
P&O Scottish Ferries [note41] Subsidy (thousand pounds)                      
Northlink Orkney & Shetland Ferries / Northlink Ferries Ltd / Serco Northlink Ferries [note42] Cars carried (thousands) 63 61 56 55 59 63 67 71 77 35 63
Northlink Orkney & Shetland Ferries / Northlink Ferries Ltd / Serco Northlink Ferries [note42] Commercial Vehicles (thousands) [note43]     0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.016 0.031
Northlink Orkney & Shetland Ferries / Northlink Ferries Ltd / Serco Northlink Ferries [note42] Passengers (thousands) 304 298 283 289 298 302 308 322 348 122 230
Northlink Orkney & Shetland Ferries / Northlink Ferries Ltd / Serco Northlink Ferries [note42] Revenue from users (thousand pounds) [note44] [note45] 25,718 28,426 29,385 30,875 31,976 32,316 34,116 36,610 30,579 29,128 39,328
Northlink Orkney & Shetland Ferries / Northlink Ferries Ltd / Serco Northlink Ferries [note42] Subsidy (thousand pounds) [note44] 37,172 39,195 28,358 24,773 21,584 22,374 29,625 35,681 24,075 34,174 38,851
Total for these Shipping Services Vehicles carried (thousands) 1,301 1,245 1,224 1,255 1,326 1,508 1,586 1,591 1,662 908 1,407
Total for these Shipping Services Passengers (thousands) 5,288 5,150 5,177 5,253 5,230 5,661 5,846 5,863 6,034 2,492 4,179
Total for these Shipping Services Loose freight (thousand tonnes) [note46] 4.8 4.9 4.7 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.0 1.8 2.0 2.0
Total for these Shipping Services Revenue from users (thousand pounds) 86,935 93,366 96,710 101,146 100,713 98,604 106,194 113,019 109,286 72,916 111,875
Total for these Shipping Services Subsidy (thousand pounds) 113,327 119,060 124,059 135,210 151,527 162,015 173,641 178,492 182,386 201,057 209,755
Table 9.14b: Shipping services, local authority operators. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Operator Unit 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Orkney Ferries Vehicles carried (thousands) 87 87 84 84 85 87 89 94 94 66 81
Orkney Ferries Passengers (thousands) 338 336 328 320 315 329 331 339 336 170 235
Orkney Ferries Loose freight (thousand tonnes) 1.8 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.5
Orkney Ferries Revenue from users (thousand pounds) [note39] 2,550 2,822 2,608 2,613 2,682 2,755 2,703 3,042 2,924 1,988 2,448
Orkney Ferries Subsidy (thousand pounds) [note39] 6,847 6,702 6,924 7,040 7,341 7,625 7,196 8,688 9,459 10,025 12,612
Shetland Islands Council [note47] Vehicles carried (thousands) 297 392 377 366 367 387 413 375 382 264 333
Shetland Islands Council [note47] Passengers (thousands) 615 811.3 777.119 761.5 741.994 774.91 776.14 763.939 776.752 467.4 622.7
Highland Council Vehicles carried (thousands) 254.449 252.8 246 259.2 258.6 262.5 270.1 272.2 276.856 126.9 201
Highland Council Passengers (thousands) [note48] 3.0 5.1 10.3 10.0 11.2 8.9 8.4 8.3 8.1 5.0 9.0
Argyll and Bute Council Vehicles carried (thousands) 33.4 32.8 29.85 32.9 35.9 43.2 41.8 40.5 41.7 31.85 50.2
Argyll and Bute Council Passengers (thousands) 133.8 139.6 138.4 138.2 141.2 149.5 144.2 138.9 141.1 90.3 151.9
Total for Local Authority operators Vehicles carried (thousands) 672 765 737 742 746 780 814 781 795 488 665
Total for Local Authority operators Passengers (thousands) 1,090 1,292 1,254 1,230 1,210 1,263 1,260 1,250 1,262 733 1,019
Table 9.15: Passenger traffic on subsidised ferry services, thousands. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Region Route Operator 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Clyde Ardrossan-Brodick [note62] CalMac 692.4 688.7 706.1 715.1 761.9 828.3 844.2 840.1 849.5 320.3 536.7
Clyde Ardrossan-Campbeltown [note57] [note62] CalMac .. .. 9.8 11.3 10.7 10.3 10.0 8.8 11.5 0 8.4
Clyde Ballycastle-Rathlin [note52] Rathlin Ferries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Colintraive-Rhubodach [note62] CalMac 228.0 217.1 222.1 214.5 209.4 232.0 216.2 201.9 199.2 116.4 165.3
Clyde Gourock - Kilcreggan [note59] CalMac - - - - - - - - - 16.1 39.3
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] [note53] CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] Cowal Ferries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] Argyll Ferries 409.2 341.3 299.2 310.1 305.5 303.4 301.8 287.9 299.1 104.9 131.6
Clyde Largs-Cumbrae [note62] CalMac 697.7 695.4 708.9 706.1 687.1 738.5 745.6 793.2 786.8 421.8 619.1
Clyde Lochranza-Tarbet/Claonaig [note49] [note62] CalMac 46.9 43.7 43.0 46.7 58.8 66.4 67.2 72 75.3 30.5 68.2
Clyde Tarbert-Portavadie [note62] CalMac 61.7 60.9 61.7 62.7 63.3 85.8 85.7 88.5 95.8 47.5 77.0
Clyde Wemyss Bay-Rothesay [note62] CalMac 711.5 690.1 676.9 674.1 631.7 675.7 713.9 724.5 727.1 332.2 503.5
Clyde Total Clyde [not applicable] 2,847.5 2,737.3 2,727.8 2,740.6 2,728.4 2,940.4 2,984.6 3,016.9 3,044.2 1,389.8 2,149.1
West Coast Ardmhor (Barra)-Eriskay [note62] CalMac 48.4 46.1 45.5 47.4 48.1 57.1 60.0 61.1 63.7 25.2 49.2
West Coast Berneray-Leverburgh [note51] [note62] CalMac 58.1 52.8 54.4 57.7 54.4 63.1 68.4 69.6 75.5 28.3 56.7
West Coast Fionnphort-Iona [note62] CalMac 221.7 213.5 224.2 223.9 215.4 243.2 250.3 229.5 243.4 56.6 133.9
West Coast Fishnish-Lochaline [note62] CalMac 117.1 110.7 108.8 110.9 109.7 105.1 103.4 112.3 116.9 58.2 110.9
West Coast Gallanach - Kerrera CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27.9 55.4
West Coast Kennacraig-Islay/C'say/Oban [note61] CalMac 11.0 11.4 19.0 19.2 20.8 22.7 22.2 20.6 21.5 4.2 14.9
West Coast Kennacraig-Islay [note61] CalMac 174.1 178.4 180.7 189.8 194.8 203.2 214.3 223.8 231.5 86.5 147.3
West Coast Mallaig-Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna [note62] CalMac 25.6 26.6 25.9 29.8 27.8 30.4 30.5 30 30.5 6.3 17.4
West Coast Mallaig-Armadale [note62] CalMac 220.8 217.3 237.4 239.4 247.6 250.8 285.5 283.4 305.4 52.6 121.4
West Coast Mallaig-Lochboisdale [note59] [note62] CalMac - - 0.4 1.2 1.0 22.8 27.6 21.2 29.2 8.9 20.5
West Coast Oban-Coll/Tiree/Castlebay [note60] CalMac 10.6 9.5 9.9 10.7 9.6 5.7 5.4 4.9 5.6 0.0 5.2
West Coast Oban-Colonsay [note61] CalMac 14.7 14.2 15.7 13.4 11.8 12.0 13.4 13.8 12.4 7.8 11.5
West Coast Oban-Lismore [note62] CalMac 20.1 20.1 20.3 19.7 19.9 24.3 26.0 25.4 25.2 16.2 22.2
West Coast Oban-Castlebay- Lochboisdale [note60] CalMac 61.6 59.3 58.2 57.7 55.8 43.3 47.2 53.4 49.1 18.4 42.4
West Coast Oban-Coll/Tiree [note60] CalMac 50.3 51.4 52.4 52.5 51.5 56.4 58.7 56.9 59.5 27.1 50.3
West Coast Oban-Craignure [note62] CalMac 543.7 549.4 553.4 572.0 555.2 644.8 670.3 634.6 652.3 238.2 391.3
West Coast Otternish-Leverburgh [note51] CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
West Coast Raasay-Sconser [note62] CalMac 53.6 56.5 57.6 57.4 60.3 70.7 82.0 83.8 88.2 37.9 72.5
West Coast Tayinloan-Gigha [note61] CalMac 57.9 56.1 58.4 64.1 59.8 63.8 68.0 72.3 74.2 39.9 70.1
West Coast Tobermory-Kilchoan [note62] CalMac 34.3 34.2 35.7 35.3 36.4 47.1 49.6 50.3 55.6 16.8 38.2
West Coast Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy [note50] [note60] CalMac 182.3 183.1 185.1 194.4 188.2 188.1 195.8 192.8 202.0 89.4 151.6
West Coast Ullapool-Stornoway [note60] CalMac 230.9 224.2 223.0 226.0 231.9 264.1 275.7 284.5 299.9 134.1 217.7
West Coast Total West Coast [not applicable] 2,136.9 2,114.8 2,165.9 2,222.5 2,200.0 2,418.7 2,554.3 2,524.2 2,641.8 980.6 1,800.5
North Aberdeen - Kirkwall [note42] [note55] [note56] Serco Northlink 36.6 35 34.2 32.3 34.1 32.9 33.5 35.0 36.8 12.4 24.2
North Aberdeen - Lerwick[note42] [note56] Serco Northlink 113.1 108 116.8 119.2 122.0 116.4 110.1 115.4 129.8 51.5 84.3
North Aberdeen - Stomness [note42] [note55] [note56] Serco Northlink .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
North Lerwick - Kirkwall [note42] [note56] Serco Northlink 16.0 16 16.3 16.3 15.8 17.1 17.5 18.8 19.2 4.9 13.1
North Scrabster - Stromness [note42] [note56] Serco Northlink 138.0 139 115.6 120.8 125.7 135.2 146.4 153.3 161.9 53.0 108.0
North Total North [not applicable] 303.7 298.0 282.9 288.6 297.6 301.5 307.5 322.5 347.6 121.8 229.5
All Total [not applicable] 5,288.1 5,150.0 5,176.6 5,251.7 5,226.0 5,660.6 5,846.4 5,863.6 6,033.7 2,492.2 4,179.1
Table 9.15(cont): Commercial vehicles and buses on subsidised ferry services, thousands. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Region Route Operator 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Clyde Ardrossan-Brodick [note62] CalMac 11.4 12.0 12.4 12.1 9.2 10.7 10.4 10.0 9.4 6.9 9.2
Clyde Ardrossan-Campbeltown [note57] [note62] CalMac .. .. 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0
Clyde Colintraive-Rhubodach [note62] CalMac 15.0 14.1 12.9 12.4 11.6 9.2 8.2 8.5 8.6 6.8 7.5
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] [note53] CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] Cowal Ferries 1.5 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] Argyll Ferries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Largs-Cumbrae [note62] CalMac 5.4 5.6 6.8 6.2 6.5 4.2 4.2 4.4 4.1 4.6 4.7
Clyde Lochranza-Tarbet/Claonaig [note49] [note62] CalMac 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5
Clyde Tarbert-Portavadie [note62] CalMac 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.3
Clyde Wemyss Bay-Rothesay [note62] CalMac 14.1 14.2 13.2 13.7 11.9 8.9 9.5 9.2 9.2 6.8 8.5
Clyde Other [not applicable] .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Total Clyde [not applicable] 48.5 47.1 46.3 45.6 40.5 34.1 33.3 33.2 32.5 25.6 30.8
West Coast Ardmhor (Barra)-Eriskay [note62] CalMac 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 2.0 2.1 2.1 0.9 0.8
West Coast Berneray-Leverburgh [note51] [note62] CalMac 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.3 1.8 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.2 1.6
West Coast Fionnphort-Iona [note62] CalMac 0.9 0.9 1.1 0.9 1.2 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.5 0.6
West Coast Fishnish-Lochaline [note62] CalMac 3.8 4.5 4.0 3.4 3.7 2.8 2.1 3.1 2.8 2.3 3.5
West Coast Gallanach - Kerrera CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0.0 0.0
West Coast Kennacraig-Islay/C'say/Oban [note61] CalMac 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.5
West Coast Kennacraig-Islay [note61] CalMac 10.9 12.4 10.3 10.8 10.8 11.4 11.6 12.5 13 10.4 13.0
West Coast Mallaig-Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna [note62] CalMac 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2
West Coast Mallaig-Armadale [note62] CalMac 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.5 0.1 0.2
West Coast Mallaig-Lochboisdale [note59] [note62] CalMac - - 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2
West Coast Oban-Coll/Tiree/Castlebay [note60] CalMac 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2
West Coast Oban-Colonsay [note61] CalMac 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
West Coast Oban-Lismore [note62] CalMac 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.4
West Coast Oban-Castlebay- Lochboisdale [note60] CalMac 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.4 1.1 0.9 1.0
West Coast Oban-Coll/Tiree [note60] CalMac 2.2 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.8
West Coast Oban-Craignure [note62] CalMac 11.3 12.2 10.9 10.7 10.6 9.3 9.7 8.9 8.9 5.6 7.3
West Coast Otternish-Leverburgh [note51] CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
West Coast Raasay-Sconser [note62] CalMac 1.1 1.3 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.7 1.0 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.6
West Coast Tayinloan-Gigha [note61] CalMac 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.5
West Coast Tobermory-Kilchoan [note62] CalMac 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.04 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1
West Coast Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy [note50] [note60] CalMac 8.0 6.7 6.0 6.2 6.1 6.2 6.0 6.2 6.0 5.6 6.1
West Coast Ullapool-Stornoway [note60] CalMac 15.9 13.2 12.3 13.0 11.6 12.9 13.0 12.9 13.9 12.5 14.1
West Coast Total West Coast [not applicable] 64.2 63.4 57.6 56.8 56.8 55.4 57.0 57.7 58.8 44.4 53.9
North Aberdeen - Kirkwall [note42] [note55] [note56] Serco Northlink .. .. 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0 0
North Aberdeen - Lerwick[note42] [note56] Serco Northlink .. .. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.013 0.013
North Aberdeen - Stomness [note42] [note55] [note56] Serco Northlink .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
North Lerwick - Kirkwall [note42] [note56] Serco Northlink .. .. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0
North Scrabster - Stromness [note42] [note56] Serco Northlink .. .. 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.003 0.013
North Total North [not applicable] 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.45 0.43 0.43 0.56 0.51 0.53 0.016 0.031
All Total [not applicable] 112.8 110.5 104.3 102.9 97.7 89.9 90.9 91.4 91.8 70.0 84.7
Table 9.15b: Car traffic on subsidised ferry services, thousands. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Region Route Operator 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Clyde Ardrossan-Brodick [note62] CalMac 127.9 127.0 130.4 139.6 189.9 202.8 205.5 199.0 207.7 103.4 159.9
Clyde Ardrossan-Campbeltown [note57] [note62] CalMac .. .. 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.2 2.9 0.0 3
Clyde Colintraive-Rhubodach [note62] CalMac 80.9 76.4 75.5 74.6 83.7 95.2 91.6 84.7 86.6 56.9 77
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] [note53] CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] Cowal Ferries 25.8 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Gourock-Dunoon [note24] Argyll Ferries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Largs-Cumbrae [note62] CalMac 136.0 134.1 134.9 135 138.2 161.3 169.9 174.1 178.9 125.7 175.5
Clyde Lochranza-Tarbet/Claonaig [note49] [note62] CalMac 14.7 14.0 13.9 14.9 20.8 23.9 24.2 25.5 27.5 12.2 26.8
Clyde Tarbert-Portavadie [note62] CalMac 19.7 19.0 18.5 18.5 17.9 25.5 26.6 28.8 30.2 18.4 27.8
Clyde Wemyss Bay-Rothesay [note62] CalMac 152.9 150.1 144.8 147.5 145.1 172.9 188.7 193.7 198.1 112.7 165.8
Clyde Other [not applicable] .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Clyde Total Clyde [not applicable] 557.9 520.7 520.0 532.3 597.9 684.1 709.0 708.0 731.9 429.3 635.2
West Coast Ardmhor (Barra)-Eriskay [note62] CalMac 17.0 16.7 16.6 17.0 17.3 22.0 23.0 23.9 25.3 13.1 21.4
West Coast Berneray-Leverburgh [note51] [note62] CalMac 23.4 21.7 22.2 23.9 22.5 28.2 29.7 30.4 32.3 14.4 26.7
West Coast Fionnphort-Iona [note62] CalMac 5.6 6.1 6.7 6.7 6.7 8.3 8.8 9.1 9.2 6.8 8.2
West Coast Fishnish-Lochaline [note62] CalMac 46.2 43.7 43.4 44.6 45.1 42.7 42.9 45.5 46.7 28.4 51.8
West Coast Gallanach - Kerrera CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.5 2.1
West Coast Kennacraig-Islay/C'say/Oban [note61] CalMac 3.2 3.1 5.5 6.0 6.6 7.7 7.3 6.8 7.1 1.7 5.6
West Coast Kennacraig-Islay [note61] CalMac 56.0 57.3 61.8 65.8 66.8 69.7 76.4 79.5 81.6 36.4 60.8
West Coast Mallaig-Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna [note62] CalMac 0.8 1.0 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 2.5 3.2
West Coast Mallaig-Armadale [note62] CalMac 52.4 50.3 52.4 53.1 54.9 61.8 70.0 67.8 75.8 19.8 42.3
West Coast Mallaig-Lochboisdale [note59] [note62] CalMac - - 0.1 0.4 0.4 8.3 11 8.3 11.5 4.2 8.6
West Coast Oban-Coll/Tiree/Castlebay [note60] CalMac 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.8 0.0 1.9
West Coast Oban-Colonsay [note61] CalMac 4.3 4.3 4.8 4.4 4.2 4.5 4.9 5.1 5 3.6 5.2
West Coast Oban-Lismore [note62] CalMac 2.7 3.1 3.1 3.4 3.8 5.8 6.7 6.7 6.7 5.7 7.9
West Coast Oban-Castlebay- Lochboisdale [note60] CalMac 19.3 18.6 17.9 18.4 18.0 15.7 17.1 20 18.3 8.8 17.0
West Coast Oban-Coll/Tiree [note60] CalMac 15.2 15.9 16.0 15.7 15.8 17.8 18.8 18 19.2 10.5 19.4
West Coast Oban-Craignure [note62] CalMac 108.9 105.8 109.9 112.6 115.4 162.3 168.1 164 169.7 84.3 127.8
West Coast Otternish-Leverburgh [note51] CalMac .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
West Coast Raasay-Sconser [note62] CalMac 19.0 19.8 20.1 19.2 20.3 25.2 29.2 29.9 31.3 17.7 28.5
West Coast Tayinloan-Gigha [note61] CalMac 12.7 12.7 14.3 15.8 15.7 17.5 19.5 20.7 22.9 15.0 23.2
West Coast Tobermory-Kilchoan [note62] CalMac 5.3 5.2 5.3 5.5 6.1 10.6 11.7 11.6 14.4 4.8 10.3
West Coast Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy [note50] [note60] CalMac 67.6 69.8 72.0 76.1 74.8 74.7 78.2 76.7 80.5 39.5 65.1
West Coast Ullapool-Stornoway [note60] CalMac 67.8 67.2 68.6 70.3 72.0 86.2 92.1 94.7 100.9 55.7 87.4
West Coast Total West Coast [not applicable] 530.0 524.8 544.3 562.6 570.0 672.5 719.0 722.0 762.0 374.3 624.3
North Aberdeen - Kirkwall [note42] [note55] [note56] Serco Northlink 5.0 4.6 4.8 4.2 4.5 4.5 4.6 5.1 5.6 2.5 3.7
North Aberdeen - Lerwick[note42] [note56] Serco Northlink 17.2 16.3 16.9 16.6 17.4 17.9 18.3 20.0 22.3 12.6 22.1
North Aberdeen - Stomness [note42] [note55] [note56] Serco Northlink .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
North Lerwick - Kirkwall [note42] [note56] Serco Northlink 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.7 3.2 3.1 3.3 1.4 2.7
North Scrabster - Stromness [note42] [note56] Serco Northlink 38.0 38 31.7 32.1 34.1 37.7 40.9 43.2 45.4 18.2 34.6
North Total North [not applicable] 62.6 61.2 55.6 55.3 58.5 62.8 67.0 71.5 76.6 34.6 63.0
All Total [not applicable] 1,150.5 1,106.7 1,119.9 1,150.2 1,226.4 1,419.4 1,495.0 1,501.5 1,570.5 838.2 1,322.5
Table 9.16a: Passenger traffic on other major ferry routes, thousands. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Operator Route 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Western Ferries [note64] Gourock-Dunoon 1,313.8 1,332.7 1,389.3 1,342.7 1,347.2 1,331.1 1,341.0 1,353.7 1,372.7 1,320.1 849.7 1,063.3
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Renfrew - Yoker [note69] - - - - - - - - - - - -
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Gourock - Kilcreggan [note70] 63.5 57.7 52.6 57.0 54.4 53.6 55.5 41.2 42.9 41.0 1.3 -
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Total 63.5 57.7 52.6 57.0 54.4 53.6 55.5 41.2 42.9 41.0 1.3 -
Argyll & Bute Council Appin-Lismore [note71] 38.2 33.4 37.3 44.4 40.2 39.1 45.7 44.0 41.4 40.6 22.7 38.4
Argyll & Bute Council Islay - Jura 65.8 71.3 70.2 62.8 67.7 68.1 68.0 72.3 69.6 70.7 37.5 61.5
Argyll & Bute Council Cuan-Luing [note65] [note71] 16.3 16.0 17.7 16.1 14.4 17.1 21.3 15.3 16.1 17.6 21.1 29.3
Argyll & Bute Council Seil-Easdale [note71] 15.0 13.1 14.4 15.1 15.9 16.9 14.5 12.6 11.8 12.2 9.0 22.7
Argyll & Bute Council Total 135.3 133.8 139.6 138.4 138.2 141.2 149.5 144.2 138.9 141.1 90.3 151.9
Highland Council Ardgour-Nether Lochaber                        
Highland Council (Corran Ferry) [note66] - - - 560 566 557 572 580 590 598 320 450
Highland Council Camusnagaul - Fort William [note67] 4.4 3.0 5.1 10.3 10.0 11.2 8.9 8.4 8.3 8.1 5.0 9.0
Highland Council Total [note78] 4.4 3.0 5.1 10.3 10.0 11.2 8.9 8.4 8.3 8.1 5.0 9.0
West Highland Seaways [note74] Gairloch (Wester Ross) - Portree (Skye) - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bruce Watt Cruises [note27] Mallaig-Loch Nevis 3.0 4.9 4.6 - - - - - - - - -
Orkney Ferries [note63] [note75] Houton - Lyness/Flotta 78.8 81.7 77.1 79.3 77.5 77.7 81.6 84.1 79.1 81.6 48.2 64.5
Orkney Ferries [note63] [note75] Tingwall - Rousay/Egilsay/Wyre 58.8 58.4 56.3 58.8 54.8 55.0 53.6 57.5 60.3 58.1 30.8 40.2
Orkney Ferries [note63] [note75] Kirkwall - Shapinsay 64.2 67.0 68.7 65 64.9 58.7 62.7 61.2 65.7 62.8 34.5 40.6
Orkney Ferries [note63] [note75] Kirkwall - Westray/Stronsay 105.8 104.6 108.6 99.3 96.6 97.4 103.5 101.7 104.7 103.6 44.6 71.1
Orkney Ferries [note63] [note75] Stromness-Hoy/Graemsay 23.1 26.2 24.9 26 26.5 26.4 27.8 26.9 29.1 29.5 12.0 18.9
Orkney Ferries [note63] [note75] Total 330.7 337.8 335.6 328.4 320.3 315.2 329.2 331.4 338.9 335.6 170.2 235.3
Orkney Line (previously Orcargo) Invergordon - Orkney [note27] .. .. .. ..                
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Laxo or Vidlin - Symbister 164 169 173.1 166.1 165.8 163.4 169.8 162.6 161.0 164.5 98.1 121
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Toft - Ulsta 272.0 254.0 269.3 280.9 270.0 261.1 273.2 273.1 265.4 268.7 162.4 216
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Bluemull [note73] - - 172.1 159.3 152.7 137.8 146.94 151.7 147.7 145.1 79.2 116
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Lerwick - Bressay [note68] 189.0 192.0 196.8 170.9 173.0 170.7 176.3 181 181.4 190.8 123.2 162
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Gutcher - Oddsta [note72] - - - - - - - - - - - -
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Vidlin/Lerwick - Skerries - - - - - 5.5 5.15 4.5 4.4 4.2 2.5 4
Shetland Islands Council [note63] West Burrafirth - Papa Stour - - - - - 3.0 2.81 2.6 2.7 3.0 2 3
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Fair Isle - Grutness/Lerwick - - - - - 0.5 0.71 0.64 1.4 0.5 - -
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Total 625.0 615.0 811.3 777.1 761.5 742.0 774.9 776.1 763.9 776.8 467.4 622.7
Cromarty Ferry Company Cromarty-Nigg - - - - - - - - - - - -
All operators Total all routes 2,475.6 2,484.9 2,738.1 2,653.9 2,631.6 2,594.3 2,659.0 2,655.0 2,665.6 2,622.7 1,583.9 2,082.2
Table 9.16b: Car traffic on other major ferry routes, thousands. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Operator Route 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Western Ferries [note64] Gourock-Dunoon 577.9 605.5 578.5 590.0 599.6 608.0 621.8 634.3 632.7 438.5 539.5
Argyll & Bute Council Islay - Jura 22.8 22.5 22.2 23.7 23.5 25.9 27.3 26.7 27.3 17.7 27.0
Argyll & Bute Council Cuan-Luing [note65] [note71] 7.1 7.2 5.8 5.6 7.4 11.3 8.3 8.6 9.4 10.3 17.0
Argyll & Bute Council Total 29.9 29.7 28.0 29.3 30.9 37.2 35.6 35.3 36.7 28.0 44.0
Highland Council Ardgour-Nether Lochaber                      
Highland Council (Corran Ferry) 242.0 238.5 234.7 247.4 247.2 251.0 257.5 261.1 265.8 120 190
Highland Council Total 242.0 238.5 234.7 247.4 247.2 251.0 257.5 261.1 265.8 120.0 190.0
Orkney Ferries [note63] Houton - Lyness/Flotta 17.8 15.9 15.6 14.8 15.4 16.2 17.6 17.4 20.3 11.6 17.7
Orkney Ferries [note63] Tingwall - Rousay/Egilsay/Wyre 9.1 10.4 9.4 10.7 10.2 8.8 9.43 10.6 10.5 6.5 9.4
Orkney Ferries [note63] Kirkwall - Shapinsay 7.2 8 7.8 8.1 8.0 7.9 8.2 8.5 8.8 5.7 7.4
Orkney Ferries [note63] Kirkwall - Westray/Stronsay 21.3 20.8 19.5 20.4 21.1 22.7 22.5 22.9 23.4 12.1 16.5
Orkney Ferries [note63] Total 55.5 55.1 52.3 54.0 54.7 55.6 57.7 59.4 63.0 35.9 51.0
Orkney Line (previously Orcargo) Invergordon - Orkney 17 .. ..                  
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Laxo or Vidlin - Symbister 78.0 77.9 77.8 75.6 78.7 81.9 81.9 76.0 79.3 57.4 69.3
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Toft - Ulsta 134.0 130.6 138.1 126.9 139.6 147.3 150.6 136.4 139.4 91.6 118.5
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Bluemull [note73] - 88.8 78.3 73.9 78.2 84.5 85.3 77.8 75.1 46.4 64.5
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Lerwick - Bressay 70.0 66.5 65.2 64.6 65.9 69.5 71.2 63.4 68.0 51.9 61.6
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Gutcher - Oddsta [note72] - - - - - - - - - - -
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Vidlin/Lerwick - Skerries - - - - 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.0 1.8 1 1.8
Shetland Islands Council [note63] West Burrafirth - Papa Stour - - - - 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.2 1 1.3
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Fair Isle - Grutness/Lerwick - - - - 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 - -
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Total 282.0 363.8 359.4 341.0 366.6 387.1 392.4 356.9 365.0 249.3 317.0
Cromarty Ferry Company Cromarty-Nigg - - - - - - - - - - -
All operators Total all routes 1,187.2 1,292.6 1,252.9 1,261.7 1,299.0 1,338.9 1,365.1 1,347.0 1,363.2 871.7 1,141.5
Table 9.16c: Commercial vehicle and bus traffic on other major ferry routes, thousands. Source: Ferry companies - Not National Statistics
Operator Route 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 [note30] 2021 [note30]
Western Ferries [note64] Gourock-Dunoon 37.9 40.0 37.9 37.9 34.9 33.8 37.6 36.3 29.8 26.0 26.7
Argyll & Bute Council Islay - Jura 3.2 2.8 1.6 3.3 4.4 5.7 5.8 4.7 4.5 3.4 4.7
Argyll & Bute Council Cuan-Luing [note71] 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.5
Argyll & Bute Council Total 3.5 3.1 1.9 3.6 5.0 6.0 6.2 5.2 5.0 3.9 6.2
Highland Council Ardgour-Nether Lochaber                      
Highland Council (Corran Ferry) [note66] 12.5 14.3 11.3 11.8 11.4 11.5 12.6 11.1 11.0 6.9 11.0
Highland Council Total [note78] 12.5 14.3 11.3 11.8 11.4 11.5 12.6 11.1 11.0 6.9 11.0
Orkney Ferries [note63] Houton - Lyness/Flotta 6.0 7.4 8.5 9.0 9.0 9.4 9.9 10.7 9.4 9.8 8.4
Orkney Ferries [note63] Tingwall - Rousay/Egilsay/Wyre 6.8 4.9 4.9 4.5 4.8 4.7 4.6 5.3 4.7 4.5 3.6
Orkney Ferries [note63] Kirkwall - Shapinsay 4.9 4.4 4.3 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.9 3.7 3.1 3.4
Orkney Ferries [note63] Kirkwall - Westray/Stronsay 13.5 15.7 13.8 13.1 13.1 14.4 13.8 14.2 13.6 12.2 14.4
Orkney Ferries [note63] Total 31.2 32.3 31.5 29.9 30.0 31.7 31.5 34.1 31.4 29.6 29.8
Orkney Line (previously Orcargo) Invergordon - Orkney [note27] .. ..                  
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Laxo or Vidlin - Symbister 4.3 4.0 2.2 2.9 - - 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Toft - Ulsta 7.6 12.6 9.0 12 - - 12.6 9.5 9.9 8.4 9.4
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Gutcher - Belmont [note73] - 7.2 3.9 6.4 - - 3.7 4.1 3.8 2.8 3.0
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Lerwick - Bressay [note68] 3.5 4.7 2.5 4 - - 2.2 2.2 1.7 1.5 1.8
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Gutcher - Oddsta [note72] - - - - - - - - - - -
Shetland Islands Council [note63] Total 15.4 28.5 17.6 25.3 0.0 0.0 20.5 17.7 17.4 14.5 16.0
Cromarty Ferry Company Cromarty-Nigg - - - - - - - - - - -
All operators Total all routes 100.4 118.2 100.1 108.5 81.3 83.0 108.4 104.4 94.6 80.8 89.7
Table 9.17: Reliability and punctuality of lifeline ferry services. Source: Scottish Government - Not National Statistics
Operator Measure 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
CalMac Scheduled sailings (numbers) 131,209 131,334 133,477 134,665 133,391 135,680 135,076 144,770 163,878 119,988 157,105
CalMac Reliability (percentage) 99.9 99.9 99.9 99.9 99.6 99.9 99.5 99.5 99.6 99.7 98.9
CalMac Punctuality (percentage) 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.7 99.7 99.8 99.6 99.7 99.9 99.6
NorthLink Scheduled sailings (numbers) 3,308 3,151 2,886 2,868 2,915 2,931 2,989 2,991 2,843 2,939 2,967
NorthLink Punctuality - Aberdeen routes (percentage) 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.7 99.9 99.9 99.9 100 99.8 99.7 100
NorthLink Punctuality - Pentland Firth (percentage) 99.1 99.5 92.1 100 99.5 100 99.9 100 99.9 100 100
Table 9.18: HM Coastguard search and rescue operations, Scotland. Source: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Not National Statistics
Region 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Assistance rendered [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Assistance not rendered [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Hoax 41 57 60 45 16 30 12 23 44 [not available] [not available]
Total incidents 3,910 3,283 3,422 3,364 2,538 3,827 4,071 4,304 4,241 [not available] [not available]
Coastguard rescue team callouts [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Number of persons assisted [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Number of persons rescued [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]
Lives lost [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available] [not available]

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