Ardrossan Harbour Talks Could Mark a Turning Point for Arran’s North Ayrshire Lifeline.

Doug Maclean - business writer

The Scottish Government has confirmed that it is in advanced talks to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership. First Minister John Swinney told the Press Association “It’s a very complex process, but I keep a very close eye on the acquisiition of Ardrossan Harbour. It’s necessary because of the Goverment’s long-term commitment to the delivery of ferry services for Arran from Ardrossan.”

Image - Visit Scotland

Ardrossan has an integrated railway station and a popular modern marina complex. In its history the North Ayrshire port once provided ferry services to Arran, Campbeltown, Belfast and Isle of Man. It should be an attractive and thriving business.

However, over the years, ferry services have been withdrawn and Peel Ports who own the site have never gone ahead with the multi million pound investment which has been long discussed. Lack of infrastructure and closure of the Irish berth has left the port in the position where it cannot handle both of the large Arran ferries which were planned to operate from Ardrossan to Brodick on CalMac’s busiest route.

This would have left Arran with a completely inadequate level of service had Associated British Ports not stepped in and invested in Troon at no public expense. This allowed the Arran services to be split between Ardrossan and Troon – a situation that will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Scottish Government successfully bought the failing Prestwick airport in 2014 to stop it from being closed. An initial investment of public finance allowed a new management company to carry out some modernisation and to market the airport facilities. This produced new business and increased direct and indirect employment in South Ayrshire.

Prestwick has now returned an operating profit for 6 years in a row. Local hopes are that the same sort of rescue could return Ardrossan to a healthy local business with a good long-term outlook.

Mr Swinney commented on the plan for the possible nationalisation of Ardrossan: “It’s well advanced. It’s a complex negotiation and a complex agreement and I would say it’s at a well advanced stage.” It is expected that the sale should be concluded some time in 2026.

This represents a potentially significant moment for ferry services on the west coast and for the communities that depend on them. For years, the harbour has sat at the centre of repeated disruption on the mainland–Arran route, and the prospect of public ownership brings both opportunity and expectation.

Ardrossan Harbour is currently owned by Peel Ports, a private operator with a broad portfolio of ports across the UK. While Peel Ports has repeatedly stated that it is open to discussion, progress on major redevelopment had stalled, largely due to the complexity and cost involved. For islanders and regular ferry users, this has translated into years of uncertainty, cancelled sailings and missed connections that ripple through daily life and the local economy.

Against this backdrop, the involvement of the Scottish Government signals a recognition that ferry infrastructure is not merely a commercial asset but a piece of national connectivity. Ferries are a public service in all but name, forming an essential link for residents, businesses, tourism and emergency travel. When that link fails, the consequences are felt far beyond the harbour walls.

Public ownership could, in theory, unlock a clearer path to long-term investment. It would allow harbour upgrades to be planned alongside fleet renewal, rather than treated as separate or competing priorities. It could also provide greater accountability, ensuring that decisions about Ardrossan are driven by public need rather than commercial return alone.

However, the prospect of a government purchase also raises legitimate questions. Cost will be a central issue, both in terms of acquiring the harbour and funding the extensive works required to modernise it. Taxpayers will rightly expect transparency over what is being bought, what improvements are planned, and how quickly those changes can be delivered. There is also the challenge of managing expectations: ownership alone will not resolve structural problems overnight.

For Arran, the stakes are high. Reliable ferry access underpins everything from healthcare appointments and education to tourism and supply chains. Each cancelled sailing chips away at confidence, not just in the service but in the broader promise of island connectivity. If these talks lead to decisive action, they could help restore that confidence and provide a foundation for more dependable services in the years ahead.

As discussions continue, what matters most is clarity of purpose. Any deal must be judged not on headlines, but on whether it delivers a harbour fit for modern ferries and a ferry service fit for the communities it serves. Ardrossan has long been a bottleneck in the system. Whether it becomes a solution now depends on what follows these advanced talks, and how firmly the commitment to change is carried through.