FREQUENT, reliable and robust are perhaps not the first three words that spring to mind when assessing the current state of Scotland's ferry services.

However, as one Scottish Government-owned company continues to be embroiled in a seemingly never-ending crisis, another independent operator is preparing to mark a significant milestone in its journey to becoming the best-run in the country.

Managing director of Western Ferries, Gordon Ross, repeated the three staples that have underpinned his firm's success ahead of the company's 50th anniversary tomorrow.

The golden celebration comes at a time when confidence in CalMac has sunk - and Gordon was keen to play up the achievements of Western Ferries when he spoke to the Telegraph at the company's headquarters in Dunoon.

"The fact we've been operating for 50 years is testament to the goodwill and support of our locally based staff, our customers and the local communities", he said.

"We're very proud of our service levels, our resilience, our local employment and community involvement.

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"We work within a unique environment where our competition is heavily subsidised, and I believe that CalMac has received hundreds of millions of pounds in subsidy to compete against us."

Western Ferries (Argyll) began operations in Islay in the late 1960s before ownership of the company was transferred to Sir William Lithgow, and the first sailing from Hunters Quay to McInroy's Point in Gourock took place in 1973.

Having originally started out with just two vessels, the firm has doubled its fleet, with half of the current number of ferries constructed at Ferguson's shipyard in Port Glasgow.

Four new linkspans - also built at the Port yard - have been added during a period of modernisation as the company has adapted to changing consumer needs.

It has not all been plain sailing for the ferry firm, though, with the Covid pandemic proving to be a 'time of great concern' for the commercial business.

Mr Ross said it was a worrying time for all the 70 employees, around 90 per cent of whom come from the local area. And one period of uncertainty has made way for another, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.

READ MORE: New Western Ferries welcomed (from 2013)

The MD said: "Like all businesses, we worked through the challenges associated with the pandemic and thankfully service levels and carryings are almost back to where they were pre-pandemic.

"Similarly with the cost-of-living crisis, the company and our customers are now having to cope and adapt to a fresh set of pressures."

Taking more than one million passengers and around 650,000 vehicles annually between Inverclyde and Cowal, the company is now also considering how best to adjust to the current net zero objectives.

Mr Ross said: "The two Ferguson's built vessels are now about 20-years-old. They have been well maintained and are still very reliable, but we will be looking to replace them at some point in the future and we are very conscious of the need to reduce our carbon footprint.

"We're a commercial operation, we have to provide a product and a service that our customers want to use.

"Dunoon is not an island, you can drive to Glasgow. So, we must make sure that our service is as good as, if not better than, the road option.

"I read the newspapers in the west coast of Scotland, so I realise that it's been a very challenging period for other ferry operators. But Western Ferries very quietly, very efficiently gets on with the business of transporting people safely back and forward."

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Mr Ross revealed the company's 'rolling programme of investment' could also include other routes elsewhere in Scotland as he admitted they are 'always looking for new opportunities'.

He said: "The barriers to entry are significant but we certainly watch what's happening outside the Clyde and fully appreciate the frustration, coming from other ferry dependent communities, right now.

"There could be other niche markets that could become available to Western Ferries."

Keeping plans to mark the special half-century anniversary firmly under wraps, the managing director added: "I've been here for almost 19 years and thoroughly enjoy working for Western Ferries and I'm very proud to be part of the Western Ferries team.

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"The 50 years of service, the service frequency and resilience are remarkable achievements in themselves, but more so when you consider the particular challenges of operating in competition with a heavily subsidised alternative.

"These achievements are testament to the long-term support and goodwill of all our customers as well as the outstanding contributions of our employees past and present.

"Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank both our customers and staff for this support and their contributions."