The longest breakdown: CalMac’s missing ship to undergo more steering trials

CalMac’s MV Hebridean Isles has departed drydock following the latest round of investigations and repairs in a desperate bid to fix the vessel’s potentially hazardous manoeuvrability control problems.

However, a big question mark remains hangs over the success of the repair work at Dales Marine’s dock in Aberdeen as only a series of sea and harbour trials will determine the outcome.

Following a delay for a period of engine works, the 38-year-old ship is being put through her paces.

Laying her up in a port like Stornoway is a possibility when she steams back to the west coast.

The Heb Isles is desperately needed more than ever on CalMac’s network but has been out of action virtually all year.

So far the vessel has been ruled out for covering the Stornoway - Ullapool route during MV Loch Seaforth’s winter overhaul absence.

Her breakdown deprives Islay of a proper ferry service and the Campbeltown link was axed this summer.

MV Hebridean Isles was removed from CalMac’s fit-for-duty list in February.

The key vessel’s prolonged absence exacerbates the acute shortage of ships in Caledonian MacBrayne’s fleet which has caused prolonged network-wide disruption.

Next in line as a go-to ship is South Uist ferry, MV Lord of the Isles (Loti), which was been pulled off her Lochboisdale - Mallaig service for extended periods this summer.

A malfunction with the 38-year-old Hebridean Isles affected her safe operation with unpredictable displays of direction and speed deviations of her own accord on occasions.

Several times since the spring, she has been taken out of the water while engineering teams grappled with trying to resolve the fault.

Despite tests with at least three different sets of propellers as well as shaft repairs the fault was still appearing

A significant amount of work has completed over recent months to investigate and maintain the ship’s controllable pitch propeller system including the shafts and the propeller hubs.

Repair work in Aberdeen focused on seeking a permanent fix to her manoeuvrability issue.

But with no guarantee of success at this stage, CalMac has a major headache in juggling the fleet over the winter maintenance season.

At the heart of the problem with the west coast ferry network is the failure of successive governments to establish a sustainable ship replacement programme. The outcome leaves CalMac with a depleted fleet.

Until more vessels are delivered, CalMac says it is forced to make tough choices.

The longest breakdown: CalMac’s missing ship undergoes more trials

4 October 2023