CalMac ferry chaos with broken ship and reduced cover

CalMac plans to cover the Skye triangle service closure have hit a hitch following the significant engine faults with one of its major ships.

Ramifications of broken engines on a Clyde island vessel are set to reverberate along the west coast.

Fixing a damaged turbocharger rotor on MV Caledonian Isles - which normally services the island of Arran - as well as repairs to main bearings and crankshaft journals on both engines could take up to five weeks at current best estimates.

Impacts on lifeline sailings for Uist and Barra are inevitable with CalMac desperately trying to juggle a reduced number of boats to provide services.

A spell of forecast gales and rough seas is likely to cause disruption to some ferry routes over the coming few days.

Delays or “challenges” with comhairle construction works at Lochmaddy pier is not helping matters with the circumstances often making it unsafe for vessel manoeuvrability at the location in adverse weather.

There’s little chance of the Caledonian Isles leaving her annual refit anytime soon, leaving CalMac down by three large ships possibly well into March. This includes two Western Isles vessels soon heading off for their annual drydock.

Lochboisdale and Castlebay end up with reduced capacity for the next 21 days under rejigged schedules. Still up in the air are final timetable plans for the following three weeks. Some kind of service will operate but all will be shaped on what else goes wrong and which ships have not developed new defects.

Barra ferry, MV Isle of Lewis, is getting ready to leave for her yearly refit while MV Lord of the Isles - which is usually based in South Uist - was previously despatched to the Coll and Tiree runs where she remains until further notice.

In their absence, MV Isle of Mull will operate a combined sailing for Barra and South Uist linking with Oban up to the middle of February. But only 30 passengers will be legally allowed to travel on certain sailings on Mondays and Wednesday after next week when consignments of hazardous goods are being transported. Mallaig sailings will not operate.

MV Finlaggan will no longer take over as relief vessel for Lochmaddy, alleviating concerns for those who questioned her reliability for the service.

CalMac confirmed MV Hebrides will now remain on station until her overhaul on 13 March with MV Clansman then covering the interim Ullapool link.

The changes means a “reduction in capacity for both Uist and Barra and I am aware that service to Uist is already reduced as a result of the Uig closure,” said a CalMac area manager, referring to the decreased number of sailings while a new pier is being built in Skye. In addition, the Harris - Skye service has been cancelled until March due to the berth upgrade work.

Port teams will start working through the booked traffic from early next week ensuring that ferry space is allocated fairly to both Uist and Barra.

“In order to fairly manage capacity” between Uist and Barra during this period, bookings can only be made via telephone by contacting either the customer engagement centre or Lochboisdale, Castlebay or Oban port offices said CalMac.

The area manager said: “I am very sorry for the issues this will cause to our communities when we are already restricted throughout the Western Isles as a result of the Highland Council's closure of Uig.

“Please be assured that we will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that essential supplies are prioritised at all times.”

CalMac faces ferry chaos with broken ship and lack of full cover. Already diminished service further reduced for Uist and Barra

28 January 2023