CalMac is running weeks behind in publishing its annual winter overhaul schedule which involve all 35 vessels spending a legally required period in dry dock for planned maintenance.
Hebrides News outlined the schedule ferry overhaul arrangements for Western Isles routes some weeks ago.
CalMac said it will published the details on its website later today (Friday).
However, the overhaul programme is already a third of the way through with a number of vessels having departed for their annual maintenance and inspections such as MV Loch Seaforth (which is due back next week), MV Lord of the Isles, and MV Loch Alainn.
MV Isle of Arran has already returned to service after completed her overhaul nearly two weeks ago. Many of the small ferry fleet are also back on duty.
MV Hebridean Isles is currently in Aberdeen for her dry docking.
Dry dock details obtained by Hebrides News show Castlebay ferry, MV Isle of Lewis, is expected to be off station for much of February.
Skye triangle vessel, MV Hebrides, is due to undertake her dry docking from mid February until early March. She will be relieved by MV Clansman which will have spent nearly a month in overhaul over January.
MV Loch Portain will be on the slip for nearly three weeks in February while relief ship, MV Loch Bhrusda, is off for about from the start of January.
Barra and South Uist relief vessel, MV Isle of Mull is set to occupy the dock from the last week of this month immediately after work on the Heb Isles is finished.
This year’s programme has increased from 647 days last year to 668, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring all required works can be carried out effectively to reduce the chance of in-
Several vessels will be subject to an extended annual maintenance period. This is needed to meet the requirements for a peak of scheduled maintenance and survey work, which is in keeping with the fleet age profile.
Pauline Blackshaw, Director of Strategy and Change, said: “The annual overhaul programme ensures that our vessels are as resilient as possible to cope with the challenging waters of the west coast. This winter, multiple vessels will be required to cover single routes, which will lead to challenges across the network.
“Occasionally, emergent work is discovered during annual maintenance, leading to a delay in the vessel returning to service. This occurred early in 2023 due to a combination of technical defects and the subsequent impact on the planned annual maintenance period schedule.
“We understand that customers may be anxious about this happening again, in which case, we will stay in close contact with them to ensure that they are kept up to date about developments.
“Please be assured that we have planned the annual maintenance period with as much detail and consideration as possible, based on our knowledge of the vessels, and we are continuously monitoring the progress over each maintenance period closely.”
CalMac finally reveals overhaul schedule weeks after ships head off
10 November 2023
