CalMac’s ferry services stretched to their very limits

CalMac’s ability to maintain lifeline ferry services is being tested to the limit as the shipping operator struggles with serious breakdowns and a shortage of vessels amid a rise in the number of people and vehicles travelling.

In a bid to help maximise car deck space during this period of severe disruption, CalMac encourages people who are able to do so to travel as foot passengers.

Reduced capacity is strongly evident across increasingly busy sea links with serious faults ruling three major ships out of action.

Knock-on effects rippling through the fleet force a shake-up of services.

A customer update issued on Wednesday omits to mention the potential impacts on South Uist links.

Despite being arranged to provide additional capacity during the Skye triangle closure, Lochboisdale to Mallaig sailings have been withdrawn. Pre-booked travellers are being switched to go through Oban. Passenger numbers to South Uist are limited to just 30 people on Mondays. Similar restrictions apply on Wednesday’s mainland bound sailings due to the transportation of heating gas cylinders which invoke the operation of dangerous goods legislation. The heating gas is coming through Lochboisdale instead of the interim Ullapool to Uist link.

CalMac has not said to say what continuity plans it has - if any - for the South Uist service beyond 12 March with pressure to return relief vessel, MV Isle of the Mull, back to her Craignure run. However, proposals for the Castlebay pier outage during wire replacement works rely on diverting traffic over the Sound of Barra to connect with a ferry at Lochboisdale.

On Mull people cannot book travel as the smaller MV Loch Frisa which is currently the sole vessel on the route is unable to cope at times with the growing seasonal demand for trips to Mull. No new Craignure reservations will be taken until all currently booked traffic has been moved said CalMac.

MV Loch Frisa’s planned overhaul - due on Monday - has been postponed to the next available dry dock which is 24 April. MV Isle of Mull will operate solo until her return.

MV Lord of the Isles, the vessel which should be operating from Lochboisdale is set to remain on the Coll/Tiree Colonsay services as their vessel, MV Clansman is laid up in Glasgow for repairs. With a lack of alternative vessels, the Loti is likely to stay there until mid April as the Clansman will be diverted to the Lochmaddy service to release MV Hebrides for her annual drydocking.

Also causing problems is the shutdown of the Skye triangle service due pier construction works at Uig.

All Tarbert sailings are cancelled under CalMac’s timetable rearrangements. North Uist services are presently diverted to Ullapool and reduced to a single return run per day until mid-March.

MV Caledonian Isles which usually operates the Brodick route has damaged engine bearings. She will not return to service until the beginning of April. The smaller MV Isle of Arran is providing cover on the busy route.

MV Hebridean Isles should also be on the Arran route to provide a two-vessel service, however she is also out of action due to a fault on her controllable pitch propeller system. The vessel is waiting to enter dry dock on Monday.

CalMac is seeking to delay MV Finlaggan’s overhaul to continue a lifeline link for Islay. Vessel deployment plans are currently being reviewed for the service but may provide a diminished service going into the summer timetable period.

Chartered freight vessel, MV Arrow, which is on standby in Stornoway is scheduled to be returned to Isle of Man Steam Packet Company on 15 March.

CalMac’s ferry services stretched to the limit

2 March 2023