Scotland's ferry service between Dunoon and Gourock experienced nearly 600 sailings without a single passenger in the last year, according to official figures. Between March 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, the service made 589 trips with only staff on board. During the same period, the ferry was half-empty on 8,849 occasions.
This route has also been identified as the worst within the CalMac network for technical cancellations, with over 6,000 journeys canceled since January 2023. The decline in passenger numbers is believed to stem from the replacement of vehicle and passenger vessels with a passenger-only service in 2011.
Community councillors have voiced concerns about the service's reliability and have initiated a consultation to identify potential improvements to attract more riders. Tim Eagle, Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson, warned that the situation could have a significant negative impact on the local economy by deterring tourists.
"These alarming figures show long-suffering passengers have lost all confidence in CalMac’s unreliable ferry services," Eagle stated. "It’s clear passengers between Gourock and Dunoon are so sick and tired of being let down that they turn to other transport."
The route is currently serviced by two vessels, MV Ali Cat and MV Argyll Flyer. Both are scheduled for several weeks of repairs this year, meaning the service will operate with a single vessel for an extended period, affecting commuters who travel between Inverclyde and Dunoon.
The Dunoon-Gourock ferry serves as a crucial link for commuters and day-trippers connecting the Cowal peninsula with the Central Belt, offering direct access to public transport on both sides of the route throughout the day.
CalMac reported that the passenger-less sailings constituted approximately 5% of the 11,953 total sailings on the Dunoon-Gourock route during the specified timeframe. A spokesperson for CalMac explained that the service has been passenger-only since 2011 due to Scottish Government subsidy and competition regulations, which required it to remain so as a result of an already existing unsubsidized vehicle service between the ports. The company stated it regularly engages with Dunoon stakeholders to discuss service improvements.
These revelations follow criticism directed at SNP Transport Minister Stephen Flynn, who acknowledged to a Holyrood committee that he was not aware of a significant methane gas leak on the CalMac ferry MV Glen Sannox last year, despite prior media reports. Committee convener Willie Rennie deemed Mr. Flynn's lack of awareness unacceptable.