Who Pays the Ferryman is an informative and critical analysis of Scotland's ferry services. It describes the 'glory days' of how, from modest beginnings, Scotland once led the world in maritime development. It contrasts the achievements of the past with the failures, waste and inadequacy of much of today's state-owned ferry provision. In addition to showing how a more equitable fares regime can be devised, Roy Pedersen also addresses sensitive issues such as CO2 and other emissions, state versus private ownership, the place of trade unions and, most importantly of all how, the lot of our island and peninsular communities can be bettered through provision of efficient cost effective ferry services. Drawing on best practice at home and overseas, it sets out how Scottish ferry services can be revolutionised to be, once again, among the best in the world.

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Foreword by Professor Alfred Baird
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• List of Abbreviations
• Introduction
• CHAPTER 1 – THE SCENE
• The Regulatory System
• The Operators
• The Subsidy Mountain
• CHAPTER 2 – EVOLUTION
• Muscle and Wind
• Steam
• Internal Combustion
• The Second World War and Its Aftermath
• New Ideas
• Roll-on/Roll-of
• CHAPTER 3 – THE HIGH COST OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR
• Ship Shapes
• Fuming Ferries
• Crewing Excesses
• Short Crossing Theory
• Fair Fares
• Ferry Mafia
• High Hopes Dashed
• The Ferries Plan
• CHAPTER 4 – SOME LESSONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
• The Norse Way
• Beautiful British Columbia
• Antipodean Catamarans
• CHAPTER 5 – A BETTER FUTURE
• Some Key Principles
• Shortest Feasible Crossings
• Efficient Vessel Procurement
• Cost-Effective Operation
• A Better Tendering System
• Route Alternatives
• A Way Forward
• APPENDICES
• Appendix 1: Ferry Crossings and Traffic 2010
• Appendix 2: Fleet Lists 2013
• Appendix 3: Caledonian MacBrayne Losses by Route 2006
• Appendix 4: Subsidy Estimates Per Head of Population for Selected Islands
• Appendix 5: Fixed Links
• Bibliography
• Index