Ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne yesterday became one of the first public bodies to launch a detailed Gaelic plan, as required by the Scottish Executive's Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act.

It was one of the organisations notified by the new statutory Gaelic body, Bord na Gaidhlig, that it would have to prepare a plan on how it would use the language in its everyday operation. CalMac completed the task ahead of schedule.

The directors of CalMac and its constituent companies recognise the need to employ sufficient Gaelic-speaking employees to be able to operate the plan, particularly in the area of regular customer contact.

Speaking after the launch of the plan on Islay yesterday, Lawrie Sinclair, managing director, said: "As a company, operating lifeline ferry services on the west coast of Scotland, CalMac has had a long and extensive association with the cultural, social and economic milieu of the Gaelic community. We identify closely with the aims of Bord na Gaidhlig.

"We believe the synergy of culture, economy, geography, history and tradition, combined with our own continuation of service, places CalMac, as a public commercial entity, in a strong position to make a positive contribution to Gaelic."