FUNDING has been earmarked for a new large ferry to serve the Western Isles, the Transport Secretary has told a "crisis summit".
Fiona Hyslop said the money was allocated in the Scottish Budget to replace the ageing MV Lord of the Isles, which serves South Uist, within "about three years".
The announcement was made on Tuesday during a "crisis summit" which was called by an island business group which claims economic development is being stifled by disruption to the ferry network.
West coast ferry services have been under intense pressure as the state-owned ferry operator awaits the arrival of replacement vessels for its ageing fleet.
Winter maintenance has revealed new faults in older ships and forced it to rejig the expected deployment of ferries around the network.
MV Lord of the Isles, which normally sails from Lochboisdale on South Uist to the mainland port of Mallaig, is currently serving other routes and will not return until mid-May.
MV Isle of Mull is instead sailing from the island to Oban, but a fault with its emergency evacuation chutes means it is only permitted to carry 45 passengers instead of the 900 it can normally accommodate.
A concessionary fare scheme for young islanders will also be extended this summer, giving four free journeys to the mainland for those aged between 19 and 21.
Earlier this month, under 22s in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles became entitled to free inter-island travel in a scheme similar to the free bus travel for young people introduced throughout Scotland.
The "crisis summit" was called by the South Uist Business Impact Group, which claimed the island had suffered "reputational damage" from years of under investment.
The group's spokesperson, John Daniel Peteranna, told the BBC: "When we set up the business group three years ago we didn't think things could get any worse but they have surprised us."
Replacement plans for MV Lord of the Isles, the third oldest large ship in the CalMac fleet, was one of the issues the group was seeking answers on.
At the meeting, Hyslop said it was "very sobering" to hear about the impact of ferry disruptions.
It must first go out to tender, then procurement, then Hyslop said it would take two to three years for construction.
Another £4m had been allocated for site investigation work for a proposed new ferry terminal on Gasay island, a short distance from the existing Lochboisdale pier.
On the resilience fund, she said help would be "targeted" at island communities worst affected by disruption but that South Uist would "definitely benefit".
