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CalMac warns of service changes to cover ferry repairs

CalMac CalMac ferry Caledonian IslesCalMac
MV Caledonian Isles was due to return to service on 23 September

CalMac has been forced into making temporary changes to some of its services due to ongoing disruption caused by repairs to one of its ferries.

MV Caledonian Isles was due to return to its Arran route on 23 September after eight months of maintenance work.

That was delayed at the last minute when a new gearbox fault was detected and, in a new update, the ferry operator said repairs could take another 10 days.

CalMac said a service to and from South Uist, which has been cancelled for a week, would be restored - but with a knock-on effect for some sailings to Mull.

The announcement comes as it emerged the delivery of the first of four new ferries being built in Turkey has been further delayed.

MV Isle of Islay had been expected to be delivered in mid October, but that date has been pushed back to mid February after previously being delayed until the end of this year.

Maritime infrastructure company CMAL has confirmed the new delay in a letter to Holyrood's net zero and transport committee.

The new temporary service changes involve:

  • MV Hebridean Isles, which is due to be retired in November after almost 40 years of use, staying on the main Arran route
  • MV Lord of the Isles remaining on the Islay service
  • From Thursday MV Isle of Mull operating a combined timetable to serve Craignure, Mull, and Lochboisdale, South Uist
  • MV Clansman covering Oban-Craignure sailings on Saturday

CalMac warned of the potential for disruption and asked customers to check timetables.

A spokeswoman said: "We are very sorry for this further disruption, and we are extremely grateful to customers for their patience and understanding when their bookings had to be moved.

"Our teams are working closely with external contractors to ensure that MV Caledonian Isles can return to usual service as quickly as possible."

CalMac Ferry Isle of Mull sails into a harbourCalMac
MV Isle of Mull will operate a combined timetable to restore sailings to South Uist

CalMac has faced challenges over a number of years due to breakdowns affecting its ageing fleet.

Projects to build new ferries have also been hit by delays.

They include Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa which were originally due for delivery in 2018 but have faced repeated design and construction challenges.

Glen Sannox is currently undergoing its final owner's acceptance trials with CMAL and on Tuesday berthed at Brodick on Arran, which will be its main destination.

Following final regulator approval it is expected to handed over by the Ferguson shipyard within a fortnight but CalMac will carry out several weeks of crew familiarisation before the ship carries its first passengers.