Ministerial Foreword

Our islands make an immeasurable economic and social wellbeing contribution to Scotland and Transport connectivity plays an essential role.

Our focus is on ensuring future investments address priorities identified through our work with local communities, to tackle challenges together and fully support their ambitions. Our Vision is that Scotland’s ferry services, supported by other transport modes, are:

I would like to thank the individuals and ferry communities who helped shape this Vision and the wider Island Connectivity Plan through the recent consultation or one of the 23 public events held across the country.

This Strategic Approach recognises the role island connectivity has in delivering the four priorities of the First Minister: eradicating child poverty; growing the economy; tackling the climate emergency; and improving public services.

It is clear however that the most immediate issue is to ensure we have reliable and resilient ferry fleets to serve island and peninsula communities which is central to the Vessels and Ports Plan published alongside this document and our draft budget for 2025-26 clearly shows our commitment to achieving this goal.

We plan to invest over £530 million to maintain and enhance our networks serving the west coast and northern isles. This represents an increase of nearly 23% over the 2024-25 budgets and will help support our island businesses and communities as well as strengthening resilience.

However, the needed changes to deliver the transport connectivity islands communities deserve will required continues focus and effort by central and local Governments, operators, asset owners and ferry communities and I will ensure we have ongoing engagement to make our vision a reality.

Jim Fairlie

Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity