The 'town centre-to-town centre' route is up for tender (the Calmac service) and three are left in the bidding process - Calmac - Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd - Clyde Marine Ltd. I personnaly don't think that Western could take it because this would break the competition rules for the route. Soutar (from Stagecoach fame) was in the bidding but pulled out , presumably , this would not make enough dosh for this greedy businessman.